All round sport

"I love tennis and am passionate about it. I’m also equally into athletics as it helps me keep fit. These are sports that have international presence and can give good exposure in the long run,” says 12-year-old Rohaan Variava of Surat. The boy stood first in the selection of Gujarat tennis players at the zonal level by the Sports Authority of India, Surat’s Keki Doodhwala informs Parsiana. The short-listing took place at Atul near Valsad this year. In 2010, he had been selected in the Under-12 category in lawn tennis for the state level school games. "My goal is to be in the top five in all India tennis in the under 14 category next year. I also want to do equally well in running and long jump events in athletics,” Variava adds.

Rohaan Variava: for the love of the game

At the Jal D. Pardivala 31st All Parsees Annual Athletic Meet in Bombay in February 2011, Variava won the individual championship trophy in his age group, with a gold in the 100 m (14.3 sec) and 300 m (48.3 sec) run and long jump (4.25 m). He has been winning since 2005 at this yearly event for Zoroastrian sportspersons and has created several meet records in running and long jump events. Variava had also earlier picked up two gold medals at the Open South Gujarat inter school running championship, adds Doodhwala. The lad counts football and judo among his interests.