Two talented swimmers from Belagavi stood out in the recently held national sea swimming competition in Mumbai. Anish Pai secured second place in the challenging race from Sunk Rock to Gateway of India, organized by the Maharashtra State Amateur Aquatic Association on February 16. Anish completed the 5km race in 42 minutes and 57 seconds, missing first place by just a second. This was the 61st edition of the event, with Anish having previously won the top spot in the 60th edition last year.
Skandh Ghatge, a 9-year-old differently-abled student from Samiti English Medium School, also made his mark by finishing second in his age group. He is the son of Rahul Ghatge, a travel agent.
Anish, a Class 9 student at KLE International School and a seasoned swimmer with numerous awards, is Ajay Pai’s son, and president of the Belagavi Hotel Owners Association. The winners received prize money, citations, and medals for their achievements.
“Nearly 500 swimmers from all over the country competed in various categories. Participants came from places like Belagavi, Hyderabad, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Mumbai. The race was a one-day event where swimmers covered a 5km stretch through rough sea conditions. After finishing the swim, competitors had to exit the water and touch the finishing table,” Ajay Pai explained.
Both Anish and Skandh, who have made Belagavi proud with their remarkable performances, are set to compete in open water swimming events organized by the Swimming Federation of India in the coming year. They are currently training under the guidance of renowned swimming coach Umesh Kalaghatagi.
