Which 13 year old Goan has been awarded by the President of India, got a signed watch from the
Prime Minister who also tweeted about her with high praise, and welcomed home
after these achievements, by the Chief Minister of Goa?
If this isn’t smooth sailing, then nothing
can be. And sailing is her sport, but this is a sport with a difference. It’s
called skiff sailing and this is where 13 year old Panjim girl Pearl Colvalcar
is a national champion, ahead of compatriots who are six to seven years older.
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Pearl recently received Pradhan Mantri
Rashtriya Bal Purushkar for her skills in Skiff Sailing and Windsurfing from
the hands of the President of India, Ramnath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This
award is given to children for their exceptional achievements in various fields
and carries a medal, a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a certificate and a citation.
After receiving the award, she proceeded to be feliciatated by the Prime
Minister, Narendra Modi in Delhi and was also took part in the Republic Day
Parade in Rajpath, New Delhi.
On her arrival in Goa, she immediately met
the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant. “I felt really great and honoured
to meet the Honorable Chief Minister of Goa and it was a really memorable
experience,” says Pearl humbly. “I am also honoured and privileged to receive
this prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Purushkar. It’s my dream to
represent India in World Championship. Currently, I am working towards my goal
is to take part in Asian Championships when I get older,” says Pearl, who was
gifted a personally signed watch by Narendra Modi.
She is ranked no 1 in India in girls in 29er skiff sailing and
third overall in both
girls and boys and is also a part of the National Squad.
However, Pearl
Colvalcar from Panjim loves every challenge that comes her way
in the sea.
“Skiffs are very fast racing boats. The 29er is a youth class
boat. It is the most unstable boat in the world in youth class. Normally, this
boat is sailed by 16 to 19 year olds. I sailed it at age 12 as I like
challenges. I sailed it at Chennai in the Bay of Bengal in the Nationals,” says
Pearl, excited on achieving accolades over her performances.
The 13-year-old student of Sharada Mandir School, Miramar, Pearl
is currently studying in Class 8 and gives equal attention to her academics and
extracurricular academia, including Maths, Science and English Olympiads. Just
like how she has to maintain her balance on her skiff board, she is doing the
same with her studies. She has won many national medals and trophies and is yet
to achieve more in the future.
She is the only daughter of Dr Milind Colvalcar, a senior
gynaecologist and infertility specialist and Dr Tejashre Colvalcar, who handles
the administration of his hospital and Fertility clinic IVF Angles Goa. “She
comes from a family of doctors. However, we are very much on land and away from
the sea and have nothing to do with sailing,” says Dr Tejashre with a smile
encouraging her daughter to explore new interests. “I am really proud as a
parent. It’s because of her, I could meet the Prime Minister and the President
of India and visit Rashtrapati Bhavan Darbar hall and witness the ceremony closely,”
adds Dr Tejashre.
Pearl learnt about skiff sailing though a camp in school. “I
attended the camp three years back and I loved the sea. I was fascinated with
the skiff boards as they are very unstable. They capsize very fast and your
balance has to be right. It is the most complicated board in the world. I train
in India itself with the Navy in Vasco. I travel from Panjim for my training
sessions. She started off with windsurfing at an early age of 10 at the Goa
Yachting Association. At the age of 11 years, she started sailing in the Navy.
Currently, she is coached by Derek Menezes in windsurfing.
One important lesson that this teenager has learnt is the
determination, not to give up. “Never miss a training session and never give
up. The sea teaches you that every day is different and you have to be always
prepared for the different moods of the wind the waves and the currents in the
sea,” explains Pearl, with the sagacity of a veteran, belying her young age.
Our sailor girl is also musically inclined. Besides her
exceptional talent in sailing and windsurfing, Pearl has also been awarded the
distinction certificate from Trinity college of Music for her professional
training in piano at the Kala Academy, Panjim and guitar.
Pearl
is scaling heights while sailing the vast seas and it will soon be time for
more young girls to be inspired by her success story and to test the waters.
