Sailing League begins at Umiam Lake

The first edition of the Indian Sailing League (ISL) kick-started at Orchid Water Sports Complex, Umiam Lake here in Meghalaya on Friday.
Fourteen teams with 182 participants, including 58 international sailors from Russia, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Sri Lanka vying for the titles and a total prize total prize pool exceeding Rs. 1.5 crore.
Participating teams will compete for rewards of up to Rs. 21 lakh, while individual athletes stand to earn prizes of up to Rs.1.5 lakh.
Inaugurating the five-day event, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma described the ISL as part of a long-term vision to unlock the full potential of Umiam and position Meghalaya as a leading destination for tourism and international events.
“This initiative has been in the making for a long time… we realised that the immense potential of this area was being underutilised. We therefore made a conscious decision to develop it in a manner that would unlock its full potential,” he said.
Acknowledging the contributions of Lt. Col. Alok Yadav and his team, along with State Commissioner & Secretary Cyril V.D. Diengdoh and supporting agencies, in making the league a reality, the Chief Minister said, “Our goal is clear: to create an environment where people say, ‘We want to visit Shillong, we want to visit Meghalaya.’ The larger message is that Meghalaya has arrived, Shillong has arrived—we are ready.”
The Chief Minister further highlighted Meghalaya’s growing profile as an events destination, citing international concerts, film festivals, and sporting events. “Each initiative forms part of a larger, interconnected roadmap for the state’s growth over the next 5, 15, and even 50 years,” he said. Underscoring the importance of sustained tourism activity, the Chief Minister said, the aim is to ensure that visitors always have reasons to come to Meghalaya.
Thanking the participants for their presence and encouraged feedback to further strengthen the league, Sangma said, “Our intention is to establish this as a regular calendar event and elevate it to national and international standards.”
Encouraging participants, the Chief Minister said, “Safety remains paramount… I urge all participants to take necessary precautions,” and concluded by formally declaring the league open and wishing all teams success. Commissioner League, Lt. Col. Alok Yadav described the league as a volunteer-driven initiative aimed at making sailing more engaging and accessible.
He noted the overwhelming response to the event and informed that the league is in the process of applying for records, including the largest fleet and highest international participation in an Indian sailing event.
The Indian Sailing League is expected to further strengthen Meghalaya’s profile as a destination for water sports and international sporting events.
Other participating franchises include Deccan Skippers, Secunderabad Daredevils, Goa Mariners, Chennai Sailing Knights, Pune Peshwas, Vir Cholas, Bhopal Tritons, Vizag Vikings, Lake City Tigers, SailX Gorakhpur, Pondicherry Pirates, Mumbai Meridians and OA SUPER POWER.
The roster includes 58 international sailors, adding a strong global dimension to the competition.
David Fan of Hong Kong will be the most experienced sailor at the event, representing Goa Mariners in the ILCA7 category.
“I have sailed for over 40 years, and I’m an international judge and umpire. However, here I will compete and wish to go higher up in rankings,” 60-year-old Fan said.
12-year-old Krishna Venkitachalam will be one of the youngest sailing in the Optimist class for SailX Gorakhpur.