The inaugural ILCA Open India International Sailing Championship, held alongside the Yachting Association of India’s (YAI) 40th Hyderabad Sailing Week 2026, concluded at the EME Sailing Association (EMESA) on Hussainsagar Lake in Hyderabad on Saturday (July 18).
Lieutenant General Neeraj Varshney, Commandant of the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME) presided over the closing ceremony and presented awards to the winners, marking the culmination of a week-long sailing competition.
“The championship had fulfilled the vision of hosting India’s first International ILCA Open Championship at Hussainsagar, while reaffirming EMESA’s four-decade contribution to promoting sailing in the country,” said Lt. Gen. Varshney while adding that the institution had produced Olympians, Arjuna Awardees and several accomplished sailors over the years.
Hosted by EMESA under the aegis of MCEME in association with the International Laser Class Association (ILCA) and the Yachting Association of India (YAI), the championship featured 124 sailors, including 19 women and girls, representing 19 sailing clubs and institutions from the Army, Navy and civilian sailing establishments, along with international participants. The competition was held across the ILCA-7, ILCA-6 (men and women) and ILCA-4 (boys and girls) categories.
