Over 140 competitors, ranging in age from 10 to 78 years, participated in the table tennis, carrom and chess games, at the first All Pune Parsi Indoor Sports Tournament organized by the Zoroastrian Youth Association (ZYA) along with the Zoroastrian Sports Association of Poona. "The games were played over two weekends (on April 22-23 and 29-30, 2023)… in usual Parsi sportsmanship with lots of gaars (swear words) but immaculate fairness,” noted a report on the event forwarded by sports enthusiast Mabrin Nanavatti.
Above, from l, 1st row: table tennis tournament; children at the summer camp; chess tournament;
2nd row: Farah Khambatta Percy Ankleshwaria, Cyrus Malegamwala, Jimmy and Dinoo Patel,
Ervad Ardaviraf Sinor, Jasmine Patel, Mabrin and Behnaz Nanavatti;
3rd row: prize winners and organizers in Poona
Volunteers from the Zoroastrian Youth Association, Poona
In table tennis, Rashid Khorshedi won the open singles and veteran event for those over 40 years while Arhaan Karkaria was the winner in the under 14 group. Kaizad Irani and Sarossh Munsshi won the doubles event. In carrom doubles, Rayomond Khambata and Farzaan Gocal were declared winners. There were no singles events in carrom. In chess, 21-year-old Bezan Nanavatti defeated both young and senior opponents to emerge winner.
Cyrus Malegamwala who heads the J. J. Building Sports Committee, along with Ervad Ardaviraf Sinor, Mabrin, Percy Ankleshwaria, Vispy Karkaria and Bakhtiar Narielwalla contributed their time and energy in organizing the events. Philanthropic Parsis from Poona who supported this event were Dinoo Patel who donated a new table tennis table, Jimmy and Jasmine Patel who sponsored the prizes for the winners and runners-up, and Hormuz Pundole of C. T. Pundole and Sons who gifted watches to "emerging (young) players in table tennis, carrom and chess.”
After the conclusion of the Tournament, the ZYA organized a week long summer camp from May 1 to 7 in which 30 Zoroastrian children ranging in age from four to 15 participated in a variety of activities like gardening, art, dance and drama. The morning breakfast on different days was supplied by Café Yezdan, Café Vohuman, Hott Catering Services, The Food Gallery and ABC Farms. The camp was spearheaded by Farah and Arzaan Khambatta who were assisted by 18 volunteers.
The summer activities were brought to an end at the prize distribution function on May 7 followed by a dance performed by the summer camp youngsters and a sumptuous dinner by The Food Gallery.