Open Water Swimming Makes Waves at Khelo India Beach Games 2025

Quick Summary:

• The inaugural Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) 2025 was held at Ghoghla Beach, Diu, showcasing open water swimming as a major sporting event.
• Maharashtra and karnataka swimmers dominated the 5km and 10km sea swimming events, highlighting India’s coastal potential for grooming open water athletes.
• Rahul Chiplonkar, KIBG Competition Manager for Sea Swimming, praised coastal states like Maharashtra, karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat, and West Bengal for their suitability as training grounds.
• India has a storied legacy in endurance swimming with pioneers such as Mihir Sen crossing the English Channel in 1958 and more recent achievements by swimmers like Bula Chowdhury.
• Silver medallist Pratyay Bhattacharya from West Bengal aims to become the fastest Indian to cross the English Channel next year if sponsorship is secured. He has competed internationally and won domestic events such as an 81km stretch twice in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
• Participants faced numerous challenges during open water competitions including jellyfish stings, dehydration risks due to saltwater exposure, variable tides/currents conditions affecting navigation safety.
• Open sea swimming’s inclusion in national events like KIBG adds legitimacy according to Neha Sapte (Maharashtra team manager), making it both a competitive Olympic sport and one fostering resilience.