Dreams on board

Takhar was in the city on Sunday to attend the 83 rd Regatta,College of Engineering,Pune’s (CoEP) annual boat festival. Clearly mesmerised by the performance put up by the students of CoEP,Takhar said,“This event gives me hope that India might be able to make it big in water sports in the coming years,if the government gives its support. Apart from introducing these sports right from the school level,clubs should be formed in cities so as to create competition. Only then can more and more children be attracted towards the sport.”

Takhar,who is a Naib Subedar in the Rajputana Rifles regiment of the Indian Army,said that such a show of talent was unexpected from the students of an engineering college. “It is great that CoEP is helping its students pursue the sport in such a big way. We need more and more institutes in the country to come up with facilities like this. I have had a chance to see many regattas in the last few years. But it is for the first time that I am seeing such a sight in India,” he said.

The 83rd Regatta saw quite a few new elements this year,like the aero show where an aeroplane made by the students was flown across the Mula river,on the banks of which the college is situated. Apart from that,they also used the wooden diamond boat,which was brought out on the waters after a gap of 35 years. C Y Patil,boat club vice president said,“Apart from the usual events like punt formation,mashal dance and arrow formation,the students worked hard on the air show. This year,we also saw an increase in the participation of girls which is a good sign.”

Almost 500 students from the college participated in the event. A D Sahasrabuddhe,director of CoEP,R R Deshpande,executive officer of Kirloskar engines,and Sandeep Meshram,training and placement officer (TPO) of the college were present at the event.