Admiral Kohli Trophy for Promoting Sport of Yachting

On 31 st July 2023, the Yachting Association of India announced various annual awards at their AGM. There are Eight Annual Awards for different category. One of them is the Admiral Kohli Trophy.

This trophy is awarded to an individual for promoting the sport of sailing and recognizes the efforts towards enhancing interest in yachting activity, efforts towards enrolment of new members, and overall dedication to the sport of yachting. It is awarded for promotion of the sport of sailing, performance in organising National and International events, and for the dedication and devotion to the sport.

The following criteria had to be fulfilled to apply for this award –

  • Performance in organizing National/ International events.
  • Conducting / organizing of coaching camps/ selection trials.
  • Efforts towards enhancing interest in yachting activity.
  • Efforts towards enrolment of members.
  • Quality of leadership.
  • Dedication and devotion to the sport of yachting.

The Members of Tamil Nadu Sailing Association (TNSA) is very happy and proud that Mr. Ashok R Thakkar, our Founder member and current Vice President has been awarded this Admiral Kohli Trophy for the year 2022-23 for his tremendous work in this sport.

Ashok’s association with the sport of sailing started in 1994 when he joined Royal Madras Yacht Club and helped in ensuring that the same was not shut down. He worked to get the permission to continue the sailing activities in the Port of Chennai. He is also one of the founder members of Tamil Nadu Sailing Association in year 2002. He has been working continuously since then for the development of the sport, not only in the State but also in the Country. He has been the driving force behind what TNSA has achieved today and its status today in Indian sailing fraternity. Tamil Nadu Sailing Association has created sailors who have won medals at many National and International Championships in various class of Boats. TNSA sailors have also brought honours to the Country by winning medals at Asian Games and also by representing India at the Tokyo Olympics 2021.

TNSA under the leadership of Ashok Thakkar has also organised International Event called India International Regatta (IIR) for the Youth for ten consecutive years. IIR has been one of event to qualify for the Asian Trophy in the Youth Category.TNSA has been organising several National Championships every year for the Senior and Junior category since 2004 onwards. Lot of Training camps and activities are also undertaken at the Association at regular intervals.

It also has organised sailing events under the “Ek Bharat Shresta Bharat” Ashok said that all the achievements of TNSA would not have been possible without the support of the senior members like Munna Jamal, Dr Mushtaq Ali, Ajit Diaz, Ravi Santhanam, Capt Ravi (Retd.) and several others who still continue to support the Association. The support received over the years from the Port of Chennai, Indian Navy, Indian Cost Guard, TNOA and SDAT has also played an immense role in the growth and development of TNSA.