Ajay Rau lone Indian in Sailing World Championship

Hyderabad: Laser sailor Ajay Rau is the only Indian among 160 contestants who are vying for the top honour in the prestigious Fifth Olympic Class World Championship which commenced today at Haying islands, England. Ajay, who will be helped by British Stephen Milne (Team Ireland) during the event, was quite confident of becoming the first Indian sailor to qualify for the laser class event in the 2012 London Olympics Games. "With right support and guidance, I am confident that I will qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games," Ajay said."It is a fact that the World Championships are harder than an Olympic Games as you have all the top seeds from every nation here, whereas in an Olympics you have only one entry per country," he added. The week-long Championship is being participated by the sailors from as many as 51 countries. Laser Championship Association of India Secretary Lt Col Anil Das hoped that Ajay would put up all out effort in one of the biggest and most prestigious Olympic Class event of the year.Ajay had finished 13th in the star class event at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The Indian is currently studying in Australia and also training there with the aim of securing a berth in the 2012 Games. PTI