Abhimanyu Panwar Makes History as First Indian Skipper to Secure Podium Finish at The Prestigious Fareast Cup
Mumbai, 9th 0ctober 2025 – Abhimanyu Panwar, an accomplished international and national medalist in sailing, has made history by becoming the first Indian skipper to lead a team to a podium finish at the 7th edition of the prestigious Fareast Cup, one of the most challenging international offshore sailing events in the world.
The month-long championship covered a grueling 2,500 nautical miles across the waters of China, Russia, and South Korea, divided into four intense legs. This year’s edition saw participation from eight international teams, with Abhimanyu invited to lead Team Sailing Inn, comprising 12 crew members from the USA, Russia, China, and India – including fellow Indians Timothy, Sriram, and Prem.
The team battled an extreme mix of weather conditions – from frustrating windless days to ferocious storms with wind speeds touching 40 knots. Equipment failures, including multiple torn sails, added to the challenges. Despite these obstacles, Abhimanyu’s leadership and the crew’s resilience secured them a well-deserved third-place finish on the podium.
“This podium finish is not just a personal achievement but a breakthrough moment for Indian sailing on the global offshore stage,” said Abhimanyu. “We showed that Indian sailors can compete and excel internationally, and I’m excited about the future this win opens up.”
As a result of this success, Abhimanyu now holds an optional invite to put together an all-Indian team for the next edition of the Fareast Cup – a milestone opportunity to showcase Indian talent on the world stage and inspire the next generation of sailors.
With over 20 years of sailing experience, Abhimanyu is a national medalist across multiple classes of boats and currently holds the J80 Ranking and Offshore Champion title in India for 2025. He is also one of the few internationally certified ISSA sailing instructors licensed to teach globally.
This podium finish marks a major step toward building India’s presence in offshore sailing worldwide. Abhimanyu hopes to use his experience to create more opportunities for Indian sailors to compete internationally and raise the country’s profile in the global sailing community.