Rahul Chiplunkar, founder of the Open Water Amateur Aquatics Federation, reported on recent crossings by young swimmers in India. OWAAF is a national governing body to govern, develop, and promote open water swimming across all states and union territories in India.
Recent Marathon Swims
- 7-year-old Kiuchenghan Phukon swam 12 km from Elephanta Island, one of the islands in Mumbai Harbour, east of Mumbai, to the Gateway of India in Maharashtra, India on February 4th with observer Rahul Chiplunkar. She is the youngest swimmer ever to complete this swim.
- 15-year-old Gariyashi Chutia pioneered an unassisted 16.3 km swim from Karanja Jetty, a busy maritime hub and fishing harbor on the Karanja Creek, to the Gateway of India on February 7th with observer Pavitra Poilkar.
- 11-year-old Kangkita Das pioneered an unassisted 16.3 km from Revas Jetty, located 16 km southeast of Mumbai Port, to the Gateway of India on February 7th with observer Rahul Chiplunkar
Chiplunkar was excited about the outcomes, “These expeditions were carefully designed, monitored, and successfully executed with a strong focus on safety, authenticity, and international standards. What is particularly encouraging is that India is witnessing a strong wave of young swimmers achieving remarkable feats in open water similar to recent national achievements where teenagers have completed challenging sea routes and set new benchmarks in endurance swimming. Through these initiatives, we are not only developing athletes, but also building structured, certifiable open water routes and creating a sustainable ecosystem for the sport in India.”
This is just the beginning. Our vision is to position India as a global platform for open water swimming, with standardized routes, verified swims, and strong international collaboration.”
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