FOZAWAC sport

At the 18th All-Parsees Table Tennis tournament organized by FOZAWAC (Federation of Zoroastrian Associations for Welfare and Culture) on January 27-28, ’07 at Rustom Baug in Bombay, Zubin Taraporewalla of the Zoroastrian Youth Association of Thana defeated schoolboy Arzan Varachhawala of Surat to win the men’s singles in a tough five-setter. In the men’s doubles, Percy Patel and Taraporewalla beat Rayomand Marolia and Arzan Khambatta of Godrej Baug. Varachhawalla, who is a national level player, lifted the boys under 14 singles title with a win over Peshaan Kerawalla. The Surat lad also partnered Frenaz Chipia from the same town to beat Shahrukh and Gulistan Dumasia (Captain Colony) in the mixed doubles. Chipia added to her trophies by triumping over Thana’s Vinifer Patel in the women’s singles. The overall championship in the tournament sponsored by noted lawyer Shahrukh Kathawalla was won by the Thana team, with Surat second, Godrej Baug third and Murzban Colony in fourth place. "International handicapped player Yezdi Bhumgara participated in all events and fared well as usual,” notes Rusi Bhumgara, FOZAWAC general secretary.

At the FOZAWAC swim gala (alongside); (middle row, from left) swimmers Karl Poncha, Hormuz Baliwalla, Astaad Irani, Zenia Irani, Shazneen and Spenta Daruwalla; badminton players Zarir Warden, Varun Buhariwalla, Naheed Divecha, Porus Shroff; (bottom): Rustom Jasoomani, Rusi Bhumgara, Zarksis Khandhadia, Adi Mehta, Percy Patel, Zubin Taraporewalla and Zubin Panthaky Photos: C. C. Gandevia

At the 20th All-Parsees Badminton Tournament organized by FOZAWAC at the Parsee Gymkhana on November 25-26, ’06, Zarir Warden prevailed over Neville Master in the men’s singles finals. In the men’s doubles, Warden and Asdin Turner overcame the challenge of Neville and Jehzeel Master. In the women’s category, Naheed Divecha beat Farah Dastur to annex the singles crown and teamed up with Denese Bastani in the doubles to defeat Dastur and Sanaya Bogdawalla. Varun Buhariwalla also won two titles in the boys u/16 group, beating Burzin Engineer in the singles and pairing with Porus Shroff to triumph over Engineer and Meherzad Patel. Nine-year-old Jehan Daruwalla was given the most promising youngster award at the tournament sponsored by Kathawalla, as per the information forwarded by Rusi Bhumgara.

Several state level swimmers were among the record number of 48 Zoroastrians of various ages who took part in the 15th FOZAWAC All Parsees Swim Gala at the Body Rhythm pool in Bombay. "The competition level was high. While all the events generated terrific interest and enthusiasm, it was the relays (with teams being formed on the spot) that brought out the best in all the swimmers,” states Zarir Baliwalla of Baliwalla and Homi Private Limited, well-known optometrists who sponsored the event.

With a large number of events held on November 26, 2006, the individual champions in the various categories were Zenia Irani (girls under 11), Karl Poncha (boys u/11), Spenta Daruwalla (girls u/14), Hormuz Baliwalla (boys u/14), Shazneen Daruwalla (women) and Astaad Irani (men). Several siblings and parent-child participants made the event fun for the family.