After winning silver and bronze in New Zealand and Italy in April, the Bandra-based Mumbaikar is gearing up for Hungary later this month. Speaking to mid-day.com, Chandavarkar dwells on her sailing journey of five years amid the Covid-19 pandemic, but not without her coach chiming in about the need for better infrastructure in Mumbai
Anandi Chandavarkar recently won the silver at the Open Skiff Nationals in Auckland, New Zealand. Photo Courtesy: Jacob Fewtrell Media/Special Arrangement
When Mumbai sailor Anandi Chandavarkar started sailing for fun in 2019, the 15-year-old had no idea that she would be sailing professionally, competing internationally and winning medals in the next five years. “I first started sailing in 2019 because of my dad who took me to the sailing club in Mumbai. It was a really good experience. I did not think I would be competing internationally. I was just having fun with some of my friends who were also sailing with me. I sailed one regatta, and I didn’t even know what I was doing,” shares the teenage sailor from Bandra, in an interview at the mid-day office.