-Somasekhar Mulugu (Hyderabad)
A teenager from a BPL (below poverty line) household in Hyderabad, Preethi Kongara is making waves in an elite sport — sailing. In February, the 19-year-old qualified for the forthcoming Asian Games 2023 — scheduled to be held in Hangzhou (China) in September — in the mixed 470 class category. To ready herself, Preethi has been training intensively with the Indian Navy in Mumbai for the past 18 months.
Raised by her mother Kongara Vijayalakshmi, a housekeeper in a private firm, after her father passed when she was seven, Preethi — currently a class XII commerce student of the Marredpally Government Junior College, Secunderabad — was introduced to this sport at age 11 (2015). Identified by industrialist Anand Mahindra’s Nanhi Kali initiative for children from poor households studying in government schools, Preethi signed up for a free-of-charge Naavika ‘Learn to sail’ extra-curricular programme run by evangelist Suheim Sheik at the Yacht Club of Hyderabad (YCH). “My initial training started in YCH under the tutelage of founder-president and head coach Suheim Sir,” she recalls.
Within two years of training, Preethi won a gold medal in the Telangana State Regatta. In 2018, she won a silver medal in the 1st Independence Regatta in Hyderabad. These triumphs were followed by two gold medals at the National championships (2019) in Mumbai, a silver at the All India Westcoast Championships (2021) in Mumbai, and a gold at the Senior National Regatta competition (2022) also in Mumbai.
Contrary to popular belief, “sailing is a testing endurance sport which requires peak fitness,” says this gritty teen. “Therefore, I practice for 4-5 hours every day whether I am in Mumbai or Hyderabad. For my fitness and nutrition regimen, I am supported by the world-class Suchitra Academy, Hyderabad. And the generous YCH takes care of my tournament and other expenses,” says Preethi.
Currently, Preethi is writing her class XII board exams. “Academics is as important to me as my sport for success in future life,” says this promising sailor, who stands an excellent chance of bringing home a medal from the Asian Games later this year.
Wind in your sails!
