(Report written by Ajay Rau – fellow international sailor, brother and student of Communications & Journalism at UNSW, Sydney)
On Sunday 12th April, 2009, Rohini made history for Indian Olympic sailing at the 2009 Izola Spring cup –ISAF Grade 3 event. The Royal Madras Yacht Club sailor is the First Indian Woman to finish on the podium in an International Olympic Class Regatta.
This is her first International medal in the single hander Radial class. She is not new to making history. Team Pallavi Naik and Rohini Rau won
Despite having the worst possible start to a regatta (DSQ: scoring maximum points) Rohini managed to climb back strong and win the bronze medal. She did well to keep the home favorite at bay and only gave Marusa Krasevac (SLO) a sniff of the bronze medal. She fought hard against Fellow Gold and Silver medalisits, Elisabetta Macchini (ITA) and Katharina Roeggla (AUT).
Rohini’s initial reaction after winning the medal.
" It feels good........I mean I was only 2 points away from silver and then I messed up my last race .It was the first time I had got 2 yellow flag penalties in the first race itself (DSQ)......so in spite of all that...I guess bronze wasn't so bad.....”
Her reaction shows she is not content with just making it to thepodium. She has a burning desire to win.
4 times Olympian and Coach Allen Jullie (SEY) was all praise. This is what he had to say about Rohini:
“She kept a cool head and focused right through the regatta. Her goal this month was to just get into shape as she had been racing different classes of boats. She surprised all of us by winning the bronze medal after a 1 year break from international competition in the radial class. She has potential to create waves in the international sailing scene. She is a medical student; yet she has been able to train hard and sail. I am happy to be working with the Indian athlete.”
When asked how it feels to be the first Indian Woman to Win a medal in a Women's Olympic Class (Sailing)
"It's a step in the right direction for Indian women in sailing...after all the support and effort that my parents, brother (Ajay Rau) ,coach Alen Jullie (
She also thanked the SDAT( Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu),SAI (Sports Authority of India) and AMM Foundation for their long time support.
To win a medal in
This historic feat will do well to inspire women sailing in
She was presented with a plaque from Slovenian Sailing legend Vasilij Zbogar Olympic Silver (08) & Bronze (04) medalist after achieving this milestone.
Results
Laser radial women
| No | Sailno | Name | Scores | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 1 | ITA 182954 | Elisabetta Macchini, CDV Muggia | 8,0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | (6) | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | AUT 193737 | Katharina Roeggla, YCW | 21,0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | (9) | 4 |
| 3 | | Rohini Rau, Royal | 32,0 | (dsq) | 3 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 13 |
| 4 | SLO 193700 | Marusa Krasevac, ŠJK | 36,0 | 8 | (14) | 13 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 |
| 5 | HUN 193259 | Zsodo Juhasz, BYC | 41,0 | 15 | 8 | 2 | (21) | 3 | 8 | 5 |
