KC Ganapathy

Kelapanda Chengappa Ganapathy is an Indian sailor born on 18th November 1995. He hails from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He’s originally from the Kodava district of Karnataka. Ganapathy represents India internationally in the 49er event.

Kelapanda Chengappa Ganapathy - Early Life, Family & Background

Kelapanda Chengappa Ganapathy was born to Late Kelapanda Deepak Chengappa and Reshma Chengappa. His mother, Reshma, is a businesswoman who runs a furniture business in Chennai.

Ganapathy picked up interest in sailing at the young age of six. Eventually, he began to pursue the sport seriously. He had even quit school to focus on his sailing career. Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar, his sailing partner, have been knowing each other since they were young and competing together since 2011.

Ganapathy had enrolled himself at Open School in order to complete his school education.

Kelapanda Chengappa Ganapathy Biography

Kelapanda Chengappa Ganapathy received his first career breakthrough at the age of 11 when he won the Gold medal in the U-12 National Sailing Championship. In 2009, he won the Bronze medal in the Optimist at the YAI Combined Class Regatta (Boys).

In 2012, Ganapathy finished at the 1st position in the 29er event in the National Squad Selection and Ranking Regatta. In August 2014, he won the Gold medal at the 29er Inland National Championship in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

In November 2019, Ganapathy and his sailing partner Varun Thakkar won their first senior national title in 49er at the YAI Senior National Sailing Championship. A year later, in July, they won the Gold medal in the Hyderabad Sailing Week.

Kelapanda Chengappa Ganapathy Achievements

KC Ganapathy made his international debut in 2010 at the Asian Sailing Championship, where he finished 8th in the Optimist event. That year, in July, he competed at the IODA Asian Championship and finished 32nd. In November, at the age of 16, he made his Asian Games debut and finished 6th in the Men’s Optimist event.

In 2011, Ganapathy competed in the ISAF Youth World Sailing Championships and finished at the 18th position in the 29er event. A year later, in November, he claimed the Bronze medal in 29er at the Asian Sailing Championship. In 2013, Ganapathy made his appearance at the 29er World Championship and finished at the 17th position.

In June 2014, Ganapathy took part in the 49er Junior World Championship in Denmark, where he finished 24th. The following year, in July, he finished at the 52nd position at the 49er European Championship in Portugal. In January 2016, he participated at the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Miami and finished 45th in the 49er event.

In 2018, Ganapathy and his partner Varun Thakkar won the Gold medal in the 49er event at the Asian Sailing Championship. Later, in August, they both bagged the Bronze medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. The following year, in November, he and Varun won the Silver medal at the 49er Asian Championship in Auckland.

In April 2021, KC Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar qualified for their debut Olympics in the 49er event at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics after they won the Gold medal at the Mussanah Open Championship in Oman. Mussanah Open Championship is one of the 4 Asian Olympic Qualification tournaments for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.