Zahaan Hemrajani secures top-10 finish at U17 O’pen Skiff World Championships

In a landmark moment for Indian sailing, Mumbai’s Zahaan Hemrajani has secured a top-10 overall finish at the prestigious U17 O'pen Skiff World Championships, held from July 17 to 23 in Nishinomiya, Japan.

His outstanding result marks one of the highest-ever finishes by an Indian sailor at this global youth event.

The championship was organized by the International O'pen Skiff Association, a recognized youth class under World Sailing — the global governing body for the sport.

Overcoming faulty equipment

The 13-year old Zahaan’s journey was nothing short of extraordinary. After racing the first 3 races with faulty equipment provided which affected his results as he was at a disadvantage, he staged a phenomenal comeback.

Demonstrating exceptional resilience and racing skill, he went on to win two races and finished in the top 10 in nearly half of his heats — a feat never before achieved by an Indian in this class.

“This means the world to me,” Zahaan said after the event. “I’m incredibly grateful to my coach Umesh Naiksatam and the entire 24Seven Sailing Team for pushing me every step of the way, and to my mentor Amish Ved for his constant belief and guidance.”

He extended heartfelt thanks to his parents, Nilima and Ashish Hemrajani (founder of BookMyShow), for their unwavering support. He also acknowledged Captain Abhimanyu Patankar of the Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centre (INWTC) and the Royal Bombay Yacht Club (RBYC) for their vital roles in his development as a sailor.

Zahaan further thanked the Government of Maharashtra, whose timely intervention allowed access to Pawna Lake during the monsoon — a crucial factor in enabling uninterrupted training during the off-season.

Zahaan’s world-class performance shines a spotlight on India’s emerging sailing talent and sets a powerful precedent for the nation’s future in international junior sailing.