DURGA PRASAD - The Wind Under His Sail

Durgaprasad joined the Yacht Club of Hyderabad in February, 2015, when he was just about 10 years old. A student at Udbhav School, Durga was a resident of Rasoolpura. His father, Lingam, works at a photocopying shop in Ramananthapur, and his mother, Sarala is a sweeper at a motorbike showroom. “He wanted to be a mechanical engineer, but it might not have been possible for us to give him the best of quality in that education,” says his father. His little sister has just completed her matriculation, and Lingam says that thanks to the incredible journey Durga has charted for himself, all thanks to the club, they might just be able to provide a decent education for her.

In his first few days at the club, Durga spent time in the water, falling irreversibly in love with the sport. “The rush of rising to the top of the pile, and fighting for your spot is something I enjoy the most,” says the 18 year old. He was driven by the passion that Suheim Sheikh, founder and coach at the club strives to instill in the kids. “Sir tells us that those who give their best, and concentrate on the sport would achieve something in life. He used to provide constant coaching. Even if someone was a little weak at the game, he ensured that they improved day by day,” Durga says.

In the hands of a coach who had represented India himself, and had brought the game to the grassroots of the society, Durga also overcame a disastrous first regatta outing at the Pawna Lake in Lonavala. “I was 11-and-a-half years old. There was a storm, and my boat capsized. I had to be rescued. It was terrifying, and I wanted to give up then. But Suheim sir encouraged me again, and said that it’ll only get better from here,” Durga shares.

The zeal with which he worked ensured that he tried for the junior fleet of the Navy in 2016, and got selected. He joined the Kendriya Vidyalaya School at the training ship INS Mandovi at Goa, India along with other sailors from YCH and won the Sub-Junior Nationals. He bagged a bronze medal at the India International Regatta in 2017, which catapulted him to the position of India Number 1 in the junior category. He was selected for the Asians and the World Championships at Ras Al Khaimah and Thailand. “Joining the Navy uplifted my entire life. I was given a better education under the CBSE board, and tuition too. I practised hard on my game, and it gave me a lot of confidence,” says Durga. He claimed gold at the 75 Knots Regatta in Goa in 2019, sailing the majestic 4.7 Laser boat.

This year, he tried for the senior fleet, and was selected once again. He is due to join them once he clears the medical exam. “A secure future is a relief. There is no tension about job security. I just have to play the sport and keep at it. I will receive a stipend of approximately 25k per month. My only ambition is to keep sailing. That is my career,” Durga asserts.

The club has given him more than just a career, says Lingam. He has become focused and disciplined about his life. He takes his responsibilities and his game seriously. The club took care of his diet and fitness right from the beginning. Durga, along with his schoolmate and friend, Gowtham, would walk from their homes in Rasoolpura to the Sanjeevaiah Park to train. However, once their game improved two months after joining, Suheim provided them with bicycles so they could transit easier. The kids were also sent to the gym to work on their overall fitness.

“The club didn’t just pay his school fee from grade 5 to 9. Suheim sir would also take care of parent-teacher meetings, visiting the school and taking regular updates on his performance,” says Lingam, who was moved, and convinced by the care provided to the kids at the club by the coach the first time he visited, before allowing Durga to join.

“Coming here gives us a shot at securing our career. Joining the Navy, the Army, and maybe just playing the sport professionally for a long time. It has become a boon for kids from extremely impoverished families, to aim for a better standard of living,” Durga believes. His father says that quite a few kids have been inspired by Durga’s story and have joined the club. With good equipment, plenty of encouragement, and gruelling training, Durga believes that the sailors at YCH are on par with the rest of the country.

“I talk to my fellows at the navy academy in Goa, telling them about the great foundation I had in the basics of sailing here at YCH,” Durga says, adding, “It is a great place to start for young sailors. For the Asian Championship, out of the 10 sailors representing India, 7 were from YCH. And for the World Championship that will happen in Italy in July, out of 5 Indian sailors, 3 are from YCH. I firmly believe that the champion there will be from YCH.”

The club has grown with Durga over the years. While initially, there were just 16 Optimus boats for the junior level, and 6 Lasers for the seniors, the club now has a fleet of 110 Optimus, and 16 Lasers. The additional facilities provided have expanded to include spoken english and grammar classes to help kids get over their linguistic disadvantages. Says Durga, “I have spent the best days of my life here. These are the memories I remember the best. Everybody in Rasoolpura recognises me now. I tell everyone who asks me how I ended up doing this. I tell them about the club, and how the club can help trṣansform your life.”

June 16, 2021.