Reviving a tournament

Equipped with a good indoor badminton court, the Sir Ness Wadia Club at the Rustom Baug revived the All Parsee Open Badminton Tournament in 2005 after a gap of eight years. With over 130 entries received from all over Bombay, the tournament was spread over three weeks during the monsoon season when other sporting activities are slack.

"What was most heartening to note was that it was the youngsters of Rus-tom Baug, under the direction of former badminton champion Hufrish Nariman and Behram Mistry, the Club’s honorary secretary, who conducted the tournament. In fact, they have insisted that they (the youth) will now actively manage all future sporting activities themselves,” notes Rustom Jasoomoney, the Club’s vice president.

Varun Buhariwala emerged the winner in both the under-14 and under-18 in the boys category; Farah Dastur triumphed in the girls under-18. Zarir Warden, the men’s singles winner, also won the men’s doubles with Behzad Devadwala. "The men’s singles final was well contested, as both players have tournament experience,” says Nariman, now a badminton coach. "It was good to see some new faces. The tournament needs to be conducted on a regular basis, as was done earlier.” Nariman partnered Devadwala to lift the mixed doubles title; the women’s singles winner Naheed Divecha teamed up with Nariman and the pair annexed the women’s doubles crown. Zahan Ghadiali and Zarvan Mistry were the champions in boys under-18 (doubles).

From left: Buhariwala, Divecha, chief guest Ami Ghia Shah, Nariman and Warden

Shahrukh Sanjana won in the men’s veteran singles category, receiving a special prize for "excellent all-round performance as veteran,” in men’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles groups. Porus Shroff was commended for "excellent all round performance in boys under-14 and under-18.” Since he plays other sports as well, now is the time for him to decide what he wants to pursue, opines Nariman. Burzin Patva received a special prize as youngest player of the tournament.

Rustom Baug has produced several state level champions earlier – Yezdi Bharucha, Yezdi Turner, Vispy Mody, Vispy Kapadia and Nariman who won a bronze in the ladies team event at the Asian Games in Delhi in 1982. Nariman had also won a silver and a bronze at the 1998 World Masters in Portland, Oregon, USA. Twice runner-up at the national level, Nariman has been honored with the Shiv Chhatrapati Award from the government of Maharashtra and has also received the Lady Freny Taleyarkhan Award from the Maharashtra Badminton Association. At the prize distribution of the All Parsee Tournament on June 26, 2005, the Sir Ness Wadia Club presented a special trophy to Nariman for encouraging and training children in badminton.