07 May,2026 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
Atif Ansari (fifth from right), Lt Col Ameya Humnabadkar (fourth from right), and Sanjana Singh (third from right), flanked by BMC teachers and officials. PIC/ADITI ALURKAR
On September 20, 2025, 15 girls and 15 boys from municipal schools received the opportunity to learn to sail with the help of Indian Army experts. Less than a year later, two of them, Sanjana Singh and Atif Ansari, both 14, have made it to the Junior National Sailing Regatta 2026. The competition we held at Marve in Malad West from May 2 to 8.
The participants have been using Optimist-class dinghies, which have a single sail and can be manoeuvred by only one child at a time. These vessels are entirely wind-driven, using only a tiller and the rope connected to the main sail.
Atif Ansari, a student of Gilder Lane Municipal School, and Sanjana Singh, who attends Jagannath Shankar Sheth Municipal School. PICS/ADITI ALURKAR
Initially afraid of water, Atif is now very comfortable with the tides. "I am now confident that I can swim and take care of myself. I enjoy competing in these contests," Atif said. The teen, who studies at Gilder Lane Municipal School in Mumbai Central, is still keen on competing and mastering sailing.
Attending Grant Road's Jagannath Shankar Sheth Municipal School, Sanjana is the second Std X student who made it to the nationals. "It was eye-opening to find out that we can practise intense sports even inside the sea. I believe that it is the sport for me, and I am giving my best here. My mind, my strength, my attention, all lie in the sea when I am sailing," she said.
Sanjana and Atif have been competing in the junior class or the Optimist Green Fleet category, alongside 28 other participants. The students start off at the same point and follow a course charted out for them with buoys. Their cumulative positions in all races decide their rank. Thus far, both students find themselves in the top 10.
"We shortlisted six of our 30 students. Among those, Sanjana and Atif shone the brightest. Sailing is one of the rare sports where students don't have to compete at every level and can dream of the national and international contests from the get-go," said Lt Col Ameya Humnabadkar, who has been mentoring the students. "If practice continues, we may see an Olympian come out of a BMC school, seeing how children as young as eight to 12 years are participating in the sport," he added.
According to officials, the students are being given four eggs daily at school to meet their protein requirements. "The students come from a humble background, so in many cases, it takes parents time to understand what these opportunities can mean for their future. In the meantime, the schools help the students get the appropriate clothes and other items needed for these training sessions," said Administrative Officer, D Ward, Rohini Lalge.
In hopes of expanding the initiative, the BMC's education department is exploring how students from other wards can be included. "Sailing is a unique sport which allows our students to step outside their comfort zones and sets them apart. These certifications can help them pursue careers in the armed forces. Needless to say, the young ones have done their best after getting the chance," said Education Officer Sujata Khare.
