In a small gym of the Karachi Boat Club one can see a bunch of lively teenagers greeting each other and visibly happy at their recent win in a rowing competition in India.
Around 176 students, boys and girls, from five countries including Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Japan and United Arab Emirates participated in the UNIFI Capital-ASRA Regatta, conducted by the Association of School Rowing in Asia (ASRA) on July 26.
The students competed for single sculls, double sculls, and coxed fours for three days in the silent back waters of Koovathur in Chennai. “It was a surprise win,” says Zaara Khadija Abbas, a student at Lyceum School, who won a bronze medal in the competition. When asked why she thinks it was a surprise win, she explained that before the competition all of them were nervous and worried. “After practicing for months the event was finally happening and while sitting there we were cheering up that we can do it,” she said adding that once she was in the water she forgot the huge crowd and the people sitting there.
The worry and nervousness earned the rowers from Pakistan two gold, five silver and three bronze medals in the competition. Speaking about her experience in India, Zaara said that the people were really warm and welcoming. “But while staying there I realized that I love my country more,” she said warmly.
Looking at the camaraderie between the youngsters, it seems that they were from the same school, but, it turned up that they were actually from five different schools of Karachi. “We practice together for eight to 10 hours a day together,” said Alizeh Premjee adding: “That is why the frankness.”
A former rower and now progressing towards becoming a coach at the boat club, Alizeh said that sport was the only thing that brings people together. “It is usually standardized and is above political discords.”
She said that her team reached India a bit late because of visa restrictions, which was a bit uncomfortable for them. “I would obviously want to go to a country freely, and though we got there a bit late, no one made us feel uncomfortable.”
Speaking about rowing, she said that not many people in Pakistan know about it but it was quite a well known sport internationally.
Suddenly, the students standing on the sides hoot on top of their voices and there was a string of endearments floating in the air. Alizeh said that it was actually the coach who was getting the royal treatment.
The coach of the winning team Asghar Ali is a lean and beaming man, who spoke politely about their win and the situation of sport in Pakistan.
Asghar, who started his career in 1992 and joined the Karachi Boat Club in 2000, said that now things have changed quite drastically and given the right amount of back up needed, “our sportsmen can do wonders”. “When I joined in 2000, there used to be no one in the practice area. I used to come in, sit for a few hours, and go away. But now, after these young people joined the club, there is a new verve and vitality with which I and our club members work.”
Asghar while pointing towards the new row boats said that previously they used wooden boards to row.
Happy over his team’s win in India, he said that they gave the international players a tough competition and modestly credited the young students for their zest and focus which led to their win.
He said that the water in which the students practice was quite rough, which required extra effort and focus on their part. “Comparatively in India the backwater of Koovathur was smooth. We practiced harder and made our win look easy,” he says with a proud smile.
