Dear Readers,
There was a time when the Parsi community was at the forefront of Indian sports. From cricket fields to hockey grounds, from athletics tracks to squash courts, Parsi names once echoed with pride, promise and performance… with cricketing legends like Nari Contractor, Rustomji Jamshedji, Polly Umrigar and Farokh Engineer; hockey luminaries like Marzban Patel and Russi Jeejeebhoy; and squash-stars like Cyrus Poncha. Sport was woven into our community life as naturally as education and enterprise, building character, resilience and camaraderie.
Unfortunately today, Parsi representation in Indian sports is dwindling. The community that once led the charge now struggles to make its presence felt on the national stage. This came to light at the 41st Jal D. Pardiwala Athletic Meet, held last weekend. Amid the enthusiastic young participants and supportive families, a familiar concern surfaced… Where are we headed as a sporting community? Guest of Honour – former national and international champion weightlifter, Nevil Daroga, reminisced the time when Parsis featured strongly at elite levels. His words were tinged with pride about the past and hope for what could still be.
Veteran athlete and former Olympian, Adille Sumariwalla echoed that sentiment, reminding us that sport and academics complemented each other. Discipline on the field sharpened focus in the classroom. He cautioned against a creeping complacency, urging families to recognise that competitive sport demanded commitment and encouragement, not just fleeting interest.
Yet, the Athletic Meet itself was proof that the flame still flickers brightly in community events like these, where participants across age groups compete with enthusiasm, even as parents and spectators cheer fervently from the sidelines. Such meets do more than award medals – they rejuvenate interest, build aspiration and remind us that sport thrives when community shows up.
What we now need is more of this – more meets, more leagues, more coaching camps, more encouragement. But more importantly, we need more parents willing to let children chase a finish line along with a report card. We need more spaces in our baugs dedicated to actively promoting sport. We need scholarships and mentorships from former Parsi athletes guiding the next generation. And most importantly, we need to shift our mindset – sport is not just a hobby, but a path to discipline, leadership and excellence.
Our sporting legacy is not a closed chapter – It is a relay baton waiting to be passed. When belief, effort and community come together, momentum will follow and Parsi pride will rule the tracks again!
Have a lovely weekend!
– Anahita
- Roots To Relevance – Sustaining Our Identity - 17 January2026
- Passing The Baton: A Call to Reignite Parsi Sports - 10 January2026
- 2026 – The Year Of Conscious Choices - 3 January2026
