As she
guides her rig over the waters in unison with the wind, Katya Coelho is at
perfect ease and in full command of a sport she grew up with. Now as she
doubles up her efforts to prove her prowess as one of the youngest wind surfers
at just 14 years and the first Indian (and of course Goan) and only sailor from
India to have qualified for the forthcoming Windsurfing Youth Olympic Games,
she highlights the time the wind caught her sails.
Much of it,
of course, has to do with dad Donald Coelho, a three-time national champ
himself and her coach. Taking her first thrilling sail at 10 years, Katya has,
in a span of four years, proved her mastery over the rig, graduating to a 7.8
metre sail. “I loved to watch dad sail. He in turn kept our interest alive by
explaining it to us. Gradually, my brother Dayne and I participated in summer
camps including one in Thailand as well as national and international
competitions, which have not only raised our level of performance and confidence,
but have given us an edge as well. Dad is the best coach. He has taught us to
stay focussed physically and mentally,” avers Katya, student at European School
of Goa, Saligao.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
“Racing
requires a different technique. By observing wind shifts, weather and currents,
we then decide our sail course. The start of the race is very important. One
has to be very focussed while keeping the opponents’ moves in mind. All this
comes with experience,” says Katya, a seasoned sailor who has participated in
nine national and international championships. Ranking 8 at the SIM 33rd
Singapore Open Windsurfing Championship proved to be the clincher and qualifier
for the Youth Olympics. “I was elated at being selected, but at the same time,
nervous about participating on such a big platform.”
Raring to
go, Katya has been building up her stamina with cardio exercises, healthy diet
and a daily sailing routine. She is ready to meet the competition (from 20
countries) head-on at the Youth Olympic Games at Lake Jinniu in Nanjing, China
this August (18-23), after attending a 10-day pre-Olympic camp in Hong Kong.
Firm in the
belief that she has a fighting chance, Katya’s sights are trained on the
Olympic horizon.
