Lt.R. Mahesh

Born on 2/6/1967, Mahesh took up sailing relatively late, in 1991. However once he started there has been no looking back. Already 4 times National Championin his chosen class – the Laser, Mahesh blitzed through the Yachting Association of India’s Asian Games Selection Trial with contemptuous ease. After winning the first 6 races of a scheduled 8, Mahesh decided against competing in the balance 2, to give the rest of the field a chance to experience the feeling of winning. Mahesh cannot be tested or even pushed against Indian competition. The only way he can get better is to compete against yachtsman better than himself, which means competing abroad and this is where funds constraints have slowed him down. The Citibank Athlete Support Program will let Mahesh go out and hone his skills against the best in the world, which is good news for India when the Asian Games come around.

“It is hard to express how I feel on being nominated to this program. I would like to thank Citibank not just on my own behalf but on behalf of the Indian athletes of the future, whose careers will be made worthwhile, by this scheme.”

Notable Achievements

• 4 Times and reigning National Champion (1994 – 1998)
• 1996 Europa Cup, Warnemunde Woche – 13/80
• 1998 ISAF World Sailing Championships – 67/135 (3rd Asian)