"Orchestrating for the Olympics” (Parsiana, August 7-20, 2021), on the Parsi presence at the Olympic Games, showcased Adille Sumariwalla’s commendable contribution to Indian sports, first as an outstanding athlete and now as an official of sports federations of international repute. Sumariwalla rues the current absence of Parsi talent in sports. But, there have been some who have ascended international podiums.
Top: Cyrus Cama with gold medal; participating in
Barcelona Olympics with Cmdr Farokh Tarapore (r)
There is a strong Parsi presence in international yachting events. Arjuna Award winner Cdr Farokh Tarapore (retd) of the Indian Navy has been an ace yachtsman. In a yachting career spanning nearly 50 years he has been a World Yachting Champion twice, won five international championships, five Asian Games medals and eight Asian Games yachting regattas at various levels with different crew members. He has participated, along with crew members, in three consecutive Summer Olympics, from 1984 to 1992.
In the Barcelona Olympics of 1992 he partnered with my son, Cyrus Cama, in the 470 Class yachting event. Cyrus had earlier won a gold medal in the 22nd International Cadet Class World Yachting Championship in Bombay in 1988-1989, with his crew Amish Ved, the first ever Indians at that time to win a gold in an international yachting event. Thereafter Cyrus teamed up with Tarapore, preparing for and participating in events around the world. Together, they won the Dutch Regatta in Europe, a silver medal at the Asian Yachting Regatta, 1989 and a bronze medal at the 1990 Asian Games, both held in China. They then participated in the Barcelona Olympics, as noted earlier.
Cyrus took a break from sailing to pursue his career in deep sea diving. He is at present based in Singapore where he resides with his family. Tarapore continued his yachting journey, winning further accolades for his country. At the ripe age of 50, he won a silver medal at the Match Racing Sailing Event in China, with four other crew members. Now aged 61 years, Tarapore is still actively involved in the sport, as he wants to "save yachting.”