Sonepat lad sets out to conquer 9 water channels of Arabian Sea
Mukul Dahiya, a young swimmer of Thana Kalan village in the Kharkhoda area of Sonepat district, has embarked on a journey to conquer nine water channels of Arabian Sea within a month, of which he has crossed three so far.
Dahiya began his attempt under the Maharashtra State Amateur Aquatic Association and the Open Water Sea Swimming Association, governed by the Swimming Federation of India. He crossed the three channels in the last 10 days.
He began his journey on February 1 and conquered the 16-km Elephanta Caves to Kasa Island stretch within five hours and 14 minutes.
On February 3, he conquered the channel from Atal Setu to Prong Reef, covering a 17-km distance within three hours and 35 minutes. On February 12, Mukul crossed the 12-km channel from Gateway of India to Mora Port.
Dahiya said he was preparing for next events — Atal Setu to Uran Nagaon Beach (18 km) on February 12; Kasa Island to Gateway of India (14 km) on February 14; Dharatar port to Gateway of India (36 km) on February 16; Kasa Island to Khandari Island (18 km) on February 18; Mora Port to Mandwa Beach (17 km) on February 20; and Mandva Beach to Gateway of India (15 km).
After crossing six channels, Dahiya would qualify for the Asian Book of Records, and swimming across all nine channels would make him eligible for the Guinness World Record, he added.
He said swimming in the open sea was quite different from swimming in a pool, as each swim in the sea was a battle against the tides and the wind.
Mukul added that his dream is to conquer the English Channel — considered to be a big dream for many sea-swimmers.
Balram Dahiya, former Thana Kalan sarpanch and Mukul’s father, said his son brought laurels not only to the village but to the state as well.
Balram said was immensely proud of his son, and that he prayed for his son’s dream to come true. Santosh Manohar Patil, Dahiya’s coach and secretary, Global Modern Sea Association, Maharashtra, expressed confidence in Dahiya’s abilities and said after conquering all nine channels, Mukul would set a new world record and also qualify for the English Channel.
