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23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Olympic Speed Climbing Champion Sam Watson to Visit Mumbai

Mumbai: When Sam Watson sprints up a 15-metre wall, the world seems to slow down. The 19-year-old American speed climber, an Olympic medallist from Paris 2024 and current world-record holder at 4.64 seconds, has become the face of one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. On November 2, he will trade competition arenas for Mumbai’s High Rock in Powai, offering a rare day of workshops and conversations with India’s burgeoning community of climbers. Speed climbing, once a fringe pursuit of...

Olympic Speed Climbing Champion Sam Watson to Visit Mumbai

Mumbai: When Sam Watson sprints up a 15-metre wall, the world seems to slow down. The 19-year-old American speed climber, an Olympic medallist from Paris 2024 and current world-record holder at 4.64 seconds, has become the face of one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. On November 2, he will trade competition arenas for Mumbai’s High Rock in Powai, offering a rare day of workshops and conversations with India’s burgeoning community of climbers. Speed climbing, once a fringe pursuit of mountaineers, now stands as one of the Olympics’ most electrifying disciplines. The sport demands not just power and agility but precision measured in hundredths of a second. Watson, often hailed as the greatest speed climber of all time, has repeatedly rewritten the record books. His visit marks a milestone for India’s fledgling climbing scene. High Rock, the city’s first commercial climbing facility, opened its walls in December 2024 and has since drawn more than 10,000 enthusiasts. It represents the country’s growing fascination with vertical sports and a reflection of a global shift toward adventure and athleticism fused with technology and training science. During his visit, Sam Watson will conduct Masterclasses for both Kids and Adults, offering a rare opportunity for amateur climbers to learn directly from a global champion and experience his unmatched energy and technique up close. Watson will be joined by Matt Groom, the Official Lead Commentator for the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC). Known as the voice of IFSC World Cups and World Championships, Groom will host a 30-minute talk at High Rock on ‘The Evolution of Climbing in Competitive Sport.’ His insights promise to provide a deep look into the transformation of climbing from niche adventure to Olympic spectacle. Event: Sam Watson, Olympic Medalist and current World Record holder at High Rock Date: November 2, 2025 Location: High Rock, Powai, Mumbai

Trailblazing Bureaucrat

The nine days of Navratri celebrate goddesses who embody strength in different forms; valour, compassion, creativity, austerity, devotion, justice, protection, forgiveness and wisdom. In our annual Navratri series, we celebrate the lives of nine women who strive to build happy and safe spaces for themselves and those around them.


PART - 7


Name: Sujata Saunik | Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Name: Sujata Saunik | Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra

In June 2024, Maharashtra appointed Sujata Saunik as Chief Secretary, the first woman to hold the position in the state’s 64-year history. Her achievement resonated beyond breaking a glass ceiling.


Sujata’s journey into public service began in 1987, when she joined the Indian Administrative Service. Over the next three decades, she worked across a wide spectrum of responsibilities, including public health, finance, education, social welfare, and disaster management. Her assignments were not limited to Maharashtra; she also served in national institutions such as the National Disaster Management Authority and the Central Social Welfare Board and represented India in United Nations missions in Kosovo and Cambodia. Each of these roles added depth to her understanding of how governance systems must function—not only efficiently, but inclusively, reaching the last person in the queue.


Her academic background gave her a strong foundation for reform. A gold medallist in history from Panjab University and later a Takemi Fellow at Harvard School of Public Health, she blended scholarship with practical action. This mix of intellectual rigour and hands-on experience shaped her approach as an officer: disciplined, data-driven, yet sensitive to human needs.


Sujata’s rise to the top was not without obstacles. Twice she was overlooked for the post of Chief Secretary, first in 2023 when her own husband, Manoj Saunik, was chosen, and again in early 2024 when another senior officer was appointed. For many, such setbacks might have been disheartening, but she chose patience and professionalism over disappointment. When she finally assumed charge in June 2024, her appointment became symbolic not just for women in administration but for anyone who believes that persistence eventually earns its place.


Her leadership style has been described as strict yet nurturing. Colleagues see her as a no-nonsense officer, firm in her expectations, but also willing to mentor and guide younger officers. One of her first initiatives as Chief Secretary was to make cabinet meetings paperless, introducing iPads for ministers and moving towards a more transparent, technology-driven system. While the change may appear procedural, it reflected her larger vision: governance that is modern, efficient, and accountable.


Sujata’s appointment was historic not only for her own achievement but also as part of a larger milestone: for the first time in Maharashtra’s history, three All India Services posts are held by women. Alongside Rashmi Shukla, the state’s first woman Director General of Police, and Shomita Biswas of the Indian Forest Service, Sujata led the administration as Chief Secretary, sending a powerful message that women are not merely participants in governance but are shaping its very direction.


Beyond titles and reforms, Sujata’s story is one of resilience and inclusion. It shows that genuine progress in governance lies in empowering people, building trust, and creating opportunities for the often unseen. She embodies this spirit, proving that discipline and compassion can transform a state.


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