THE SUN-HERALD May 10, 2009 - Special Report- PROFILE Ajay Rau,University of NSW-By JOSHUA MAULE

Ajay Rau Lives a double Life. Three days a week he can be found sitting in the University of NSW’S Lecture theatres learning media theories; the rest of the time the Indian-born international student hoots around Middle Harbour on his Laser (a one-person sailing boat),refining his skipper skills in the hope of becoming the Sachin Tendulkar of sailing.” I get pretty depressed when I’m not on the water.” He says. Growing up in Chennai, the 21-year-old first sailed more than a decade ago and got serious when he was 17.In 2006 he became India’s junior national champion.” I was just enjoying sailing,”Rau says,” and then the next day there was a lot of attention.” Rau’s success brought sponsorship deals allowing him to sail professionally. It also thrust him into the spotlight and he had to deal with journalists from national newspapers and television stations. With his parents’ help, he managed his own publicity and wrote press releases. “We have never hired an agent.” Rau says.’ You just have to be good socially and have your contacts and that’s how it works,” Rau visited Australia in 2006 and “knew I had to come back and train here some time in the future”. His sailing ambitions coupled with his “fascination” for journalism led him to Sydney this year to study a bachelor of media and communications at UNSW. After he finished his course, Rau intends to work as a sports journalist. Sailing is a minor sport in India, sitting in the shadow of cricket, but he reckons his work as a journalist may be able to raise its profile. “There’s now a sports boom happening in India,” he says,” Primarily it was cricket but now you have Indians getting interested in athletics and Olympic sports. So that’s what I’d love to cover.” JOSHUA MAULE

Mike Leigh Sailing Canada to Glory!

Meet Mike Leigh, currently ranked 6th best Laser sailor in the world.He was among the favorites to win a medal in the 2008 Olympic Games. Mike started sailing at the age of 7 and has been seriouslytraining since 1999.It has been a long but rewarding journey for this Canadian sailor. Mike says candidly: “ The 2008 Olympic trials was my third attempt at trying to qualify for the Olympics”. He finished 9th at the Beijing Olympic Games. This is indeed a great performance foran Olympic debut. And until now the best result by a Canadian sailor at theOlympics in the Laser class.“I was pretty pleased where I stood before going into the Olympics. I had done a lot of work and was quite happy with the progress I madegoing into the event”, the calm champion remarked. He was pleased with his overall finish but asked if he would have changed anything during his races, he added “There are certain things I would have changed looking back at it. But, at the time, I wouldn’t have changed anything”Mike explained to me that the Olympic Games are just one part ofsailing and there are different regattas all year round. I asked himwhat an Olympic medal will mean to him, if he gets the opportunity towear one around his neck, He says it would feel “Good! Great! What is important is the process and improvement. It is a small part in termsof your career. It’s all about the process.” The 2009 World Championships are in Canada (Halifax) .I asked him about the pressures to perform in home waters:“There is always pressure. Funding is based on positions at the World Championships”. Mike Leigh’s message to his rivals on the 2012 Olympic Campaign is a friendly, “I wish them luck!”Having seen him on water, I have no doubt in my mind all sailors campaigning for the 2012 Olympics need all the luckthey can get!

Report March & April 2009

Report March & April 2009 After 3 years on the international sailing circuit, I took the decision to pack my bags and base myself in Australia (Sydney). I am studying at UNSW (University of New South Wales) doing a 3 year under grad course in journalism and media. I was welcomed by friend and top Australian sailor James Burman at theairport. When I reached UNSW, I had attended the welcome address ofthe Elite Athletes Program hosted by UNSW and the Sports Association. Helen is the UNSW Athlete Development Officer and has been very helpful ingetting me started at the university campus. I later meet Gabrielle King, triple youth world champion, friend and fellow student at UNSW. With the help of both James and Gabrielle I have joined Middle Harbour Amateur Sailing Club and my sailing is now in full gear! The moment I entered the club I have been in complete awe! It is a great honor to be among the top Australian and world class sailors. There were members of the Australian sailing team, Australian development sailing squad andsailors from NSW Institute of Sport present. To name a few great sportspersons present - Michel Blackburn (Olympic silver 2000),Erik Stibbe (Coach), Tom Slingsby (World Champion/Olympianand world no.1 2007 - 2008) and a number of top ranked Australian sailors In the last two months I have been training with Gabrielle and herteam. We have had some very good on-the-water sessions. (Long andproductive sessions.) Often Gabrielle has been kind to offer me a lift to training as it is a fair distance away from University. Erik is a fantastic person to workwith, every time I have been on the water, I have learnt a great deal from him. Sailing and training on Sydney waters has been fantastic.There are always a number of boats on the water. And a great variety ofconditions. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to train. I have also been doing a fair bit of outdoor training (Running,Cycling) and actively taking part in college sports like Rugby,Hockey, football etc .The university gym is good and is equipped withgreat facilities. I took part in my first Australian University Regatta representingUNSW. I was leading the overall single handed division 1 after thefirst day of racing but by the third and final day of racing dropped to 3rd overall. I won the Laser Radial category comfortably. The racing was close between the different single handed classes. I enjoyedsailing inside the Sydney Harbour where the races for the 2000 Olympics were held. I have also had the opportunity to meet many top sailors in this short span of two months. I picked up my first road bike with help from current Australian andAsia Pacific Champion Ash Brunning. I have had a couple of rides onthe bike and trained with Mike Liegh, (CAN world top 10 ranked sailor,08 Olympian and friend), Ash Brunning and couple of other sailors. Just a week back I was delighted to hear the news that I was awarded a spot to represent India at the 2008 European Championships in Denmark to be hosted in July this year! My preparations haven’t been smooth sailing all the way for both the World's and the European's. I have had a number of hurdles. To name a few I havehad to get used to the university way of life/studies (after a 3 year gap!), deal witha bout of flu and the usual sport injuries. I am enjoying this experience asthis is part and parcel of being a sports man - to deal withdifficulties and look forward to the challenges. I am enjoying my newexperience being both a sailor and a university student, this has opened out many avenues in my life The next few months I will be focusing on preparing myself for theEuropean and World Championships and my semester 1 exams. I also hopeI will be able to cope with the crazy Australian winter. http://www.ajayrau.blogspot.com/