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All-Parsees Sports Foundation – under the auspices of the Navroz Baug Play Centre (NPA); Mancherji Edalji Joshi Memorial Trust (MEJMT), Cusrow Baug United Sports and Welfare League (CBUSWL), Federation of Zoroastrian Associations For Welfare and Culture (FOZAWAC) – organised the 34th Jal D Pardiwala All Parsees Annual Athletic Meet on 4th and 5th February, 2017, at the University Stadium, Marine Lines, sponsored by Zoroastrian Bank, World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust, Zarine and Yazdi Daruvala Charitable Trust, Hilla Builders and Bombay Parsee Punchayet.

Guest of Honour and international tennis player, Kyra Shroff presided over the meet which received 416 entries, including 110 from upcountry centres like Pune and Surat. President Mithoo Jesia gave the welcome address introducing Chief Guest, Dinshaw Tamboly of WZO Trust Funds and his wife Bachi Tamboly, and lauded them for always supporting the athletic meets. She also praised popular mentor of young Parsi athletes, Dara Doomasia who, in spite of his advancing age, continues coaching the budding youngsters.

VP Rusi Bhumgara, introduced Kyra Shroff who has achieved remarkable success playing tennis all over the world including tennis grand slam events namely Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon.

Homi Ustad, Founder member of Jal Pardiwala Athletic Meets, was awarded the Late Air Marshal Minoo Merwan Engineer Trophy for ‘Life Time Contribution’ in the field of Parsee sports; veteran athlete and 21 km marathon specialist, Khurshid Mistry was adjudged Best Athlete of the Year (2016); and Kareena Madan was felicitated for her outstanding achievements in Badminton. Participants JN Petit High School, Pune and Bai Avabai Framji Petit School, Bandra won the Men’s and Women’s Team Championships respectively, while Zubin Cooper of JN Petit School and Zinta Avari of Bai Avabai Framji Petit School were awarded Individual Championships.

Chief Guest Dinshaw Tamboly praised the organisers and expressed happiness to see that both winning teams mainly comprised athletes from villages of south Gujarat. He advised youngsters to work hard and said financial support would not pose a challenge for those who reach national or international level in any field of sports at a young age.

Kyra spoke of her participation in All Parsees meets at a younger age before taking up tennis and congratuled the winners. Master of Ceremonies and VP, Mahiyar Dastoor and Jt. Hon. Sec. Ruzbeh Sutaria thanked all for contributing to the success of the event.