SHEHRYAR Arshad and Riaz Mohammad have become one of the top sailing pairs, not only in Pakistan, but also in the world. This pair has managed to win a silver medal in the 14th Asian Games in Busan 2002 and were placed 4th overall in the UK Open Enterprise National Championships. In fact Shehryar is also the British Junior National Champion.
We got in touch with the duo and asked them what made them get together and form a team?
Shehryar: “Well in 2000, a few weeks before the national championships, I was looking for a partner because my usual crew was unavailable. At the same time Riaz was looking for a helm. We got together and I am happy that the arrangement worked. We got together for that championship and won it. We haven’t look back since”.
Riaz: “Initially I was not sure as to how long we would be a team. But with Shehryar I have settled in and we make a very good team.
Regarding their performance, the two have been unbeaten, domestically, for the past three years. “We have not lost a single championship or even trials for any competition abroad ever since the two of us have teamed up”, beams a confident Shehryar.
The Busan games were the duo’s first Asian Games. And their experience helped them secure second place.
“We had sailing at the same venue the previous year for the Asian Championships so we knew what to expect”, says Shehryar.
“We knew what to expect and were ready for it. The boat that we were sailing was new and though we had very few days to practice we managed to get everything ready before the start of the championship”.
According to Riaz, the weather was a definite bother. “Not used to sailing in cold weather, we had to put on a lot of extra sailing gear, which is not necessary in Pakistan. Getting used to sailing with all that extra equipment is something that takes time and luckily this time we were at the venue a few days before the championship started to give us time to get used to the conditions”.
The Pakistani duo was in contention for the gold. And since the two had competed in the Asian championships, just the year before, securing bronze in the process, they knew the course as well as the pros and cons of most of the competitors. Unfortunately just the day before the championship, Shehryar hurt himself and the two managed the silver. But the young sailor doesn’t want to take anything away from the winner. “I don’t think I want to blame loosing to the Koreans on my injury. That would be unfair to them as they sailed really well. Still, there is no denying the fact that we were at a disadvantage because of my injury. In fact it would be correct to say that we were not at a 100 per cent”.
Riaz agrees. “ The Koreans were good and we were at a handicap. Our performance would definitely have been better without the injury”.
However, when it comes to the domestic competition, the two are on top of the world.
“The championship was good and one of the most competitive in recent years. It was good sailing and winning this year makes it the 4th consecutive time that we have won the title,” the proud young man boasted. Pakistan’s No 1 sailing pair won the recently held National Championship without losing a single race.
So what the champs’ future plans?
Shehryar: “Having recently completed my MBA, I will soon be starting a job. However, I plan to sail at least twice a week to stay in practice. Sailing is my passion”.
Riaz: “We are a team and I hope he can make time and come regularly for sailing. We have great plans and many more championships that we will Inshallah try and win. Lets see what happens”.
SHEHRYAR Arshad and Riaz Mohammad have become one of the top sailing pairs, not only in Pakistan, but also in the world. This pair has managed to win a silver medal in the 14th Asian Games in Busan 2002 and were placed 4th overall in the UK Open Enterprise National Championships. In fact Shehryar is also the British Junior National Champion.
