Four Indian sailors qualify for Tokyo Olympics

CHENNAI: It was a historic day for Indian sailing as four --- Nethra Kumanan, Vishnu Saravanan, KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar --- qualified for the Tokyo Games in the Asian qualification event which concluded in Oman on Thursday.While Nethra, Vishu and Ganapathy are part of the Tamil Nadu Sailing Association, Vishnu represents the Indian Army. Nethra, who had virtually qualified on Wednesday, finished with a silver at the women’s Laser Radial Class on Thursday to book her spot in the Olympics.“I am extremely happy with my performance in the tournament and it will be a huge high to be representing India at the Olympics --- the biggest sporting stage,” Nethra had told TOI soon after her qualification on Wednesday.Vishnu, who too finished second, sealed his place for Tokyo in the Laser STD Class. Vishnu was third till the races on Wednesday but clinched the medal race to move into second place. He got the better of Thailand’s Keerati Bualong. Singapore’s Ryan Lo Jun Han finished first overall in the Laser STD Class.In the 49er Class, the Indian pair --- Varun and Ganapathy --- topped the charts with 61 points to confirm their place in the Tokyo Games. This is the first time that four Indian sailors have qualified for the biggest sporting showpiece.