Achintya 3rd in solo rounds; Khyati, Sahil join him as India gets 4th in Team Championship: AAGC

Bengaluru, 3 Sept 2019: The Indian team comprising of Achintya Mehrotra, Sahil Khanna, and Khyati Mody won the fourth place in the Team Championship at the second round of the Asia Auto Gymkhana Championship at South Korea on August 31 and September 1. Mehrotra also won a bronze medal in the solo rounds.

Khyati Mody has represented the country in motorsports abroad and returned successfully from this outing in South Korea. She was selected to the Indian team as a female driver, along with Delhi’s Achintya Mehrotra and Sahil Khanna.

In Asian Gymkhana, the top four nations in the Team championship will be awarded prizes on the podium. India finished fourth in the first round too.

Earlier, Khyati was selected to be a part of Team India squad during the trial rounds in Banglore in June along with others. Shivani Pruthvi participated in the first round and Khyati replaced her for this round due to her non-availability.

“Just a week before South Korea round I got a call from the Federation that one of the team members is not available and I was selected for this round. I was thrilled and anxious since there was barely any time to get any training,” said Khyati.

Her other two teammates in the Indian squad, Achintya Mehrotra and Sahil Khanna, have registered themselves to do a basic BMW course in South Korea prior to the round and they suggested her too. But unfortunately, the slots were full. However, before booking her flight ticket she checked the availability and was lucky that one slot opened up. She booked it immediately but needed an International driving license to attend this course. Western India Automobile Association (WIAA) assisted her and arranged the permit.

In Mumbai, it is difficult to find tracks to practice handbrake turns but Ajmera Indi Karting in Wadala was happy to lend her the karting track for her practice. Rayo Racing head Rayomand Banerjee and AAGC committee personal Harshit Merchant helped her in guiding her towards refining her skill in the few hour’s practice that could be managed in the last 2-3 days prior to her flight.

“I procured the driving suit in the last minute and flew down to South Korea and along with my teammates held the Tricolour during the opening ceremony. It was a feeling that is beyond words to express. At that moment I just felt that we are carrying the dreams of all Indian motorsports lovers. Along with Achintya and Sahil, we gave our best and managed to get the 4th place despite much tough opposition from better-placed countries,” added Khyati.

“I missed the individual podium by 0.07 second which was heart-breaking but I am happy to have won fourth place in the team trophy along with my teammates. They have been my biggest strength and support system in South Korea and assisted me when I needed them the most. I did not even have a team India T-shirt. Sahil Khanna was kind enough to let me borrow his spare T-shirt. It’s been an emotional roller-coaster and I am glad I was part of the Indian team,” she concluded.