Hyderabad: Hyderabad Sailing Week 2026 concluded on Friday with the closing ceremony of the first ILCA Open India International Sailing Championship at the EME Sailing Association (EMESA) on Hussain Sagar Lake.
Lieutenant General Neeraj Varshney, Commandant of the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME), Colonel Commandant of the Corps of EME and Commodore of EMESA, presided over the ceremony and felicitated the winners after a week of international sailing competition.
Hyderabad Sailing Week 2026 showcases international competition
Addressing the gathering, Lt Gen Varshney said the championship fulfilled the vision of hosting India’s first International ILCA Open Championship on the waters of Hussain Sagar. He added that EMESA had built a four-decade legacy in Indian sailing by producing Olympians, Arjuna Award winners and accomplished sailors.
He described sailing as a sport that develops discipline, resilience, patience, self-reliance and leadership. Furthermore, he encouraged participants to treat every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow.
Congratulating the competitors, he said participation and perseverance remained the true measures of success. He also expressed confidence that the championship would attract greater international participation in the coming years.
Quoting Christopher Columbus, Lt Gen Varshney urged the sailors to pursue new horizons with courage, determination and excellence.
Hyderabad Sailing Week 2026 attracts 124 sailors
EMESA hosted the championship under the aegis of MCEME in association with the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) and the Yachting Association of India (YAI).
The event featured 124 sailors, including 19 women and girl participants. In addition, competitors represented 19 sailing clubs and institutions from Army, Navy and civilian sailing establishments, along with international entries.
The championship featured competitions in the ILCA-7, ILCA-6 men’s and women’s, and ILCA-4 boys’ and girls’ classes. As a result, the event strengthened the reputation of Hyderabad and EMESA as leading destinations for competitive sailing in India.