Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Jul 13: Dr Guruprasad, an oncologist at KMC Kanachur Hospital, Mangaluru, has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first person from Mangaluru to participate in and successfully complete the prestigious English Channel relay swim.
Addressing a press conference at the Mangaluru Press Club on Monday, Dr Guruprasad shared that he took up swimming in his 40s after enrolling alongside his son in a swimming class. Although his son later discontinued, he continued pursuing the sport, eventually transitioning from swimming pools to open-water swimming.
The six-member Indian relay team completed the challenging crossing from England to France on July 3. The relay began at 1.30 am, with the team completing the crossing in 13 hours and 5 minutes. During the relay, each swimmer was required to swim for two to three hours in rotation.
Often regarded as one of the world's toughest open-water swimming challenges due to freezing temperatures, unpredictable weather, strong currents and rough waves, crossing the English Channel demands exceptional endurance and preparation.
The Indian team included 14-year-old Arnav Chawra, the youngest member, 16-year-old Divya Hitendra Mahajan, who has previously completed a solo Catalina Channel swim, Raghunandan Gangappa, Deepika Rana, Ankita Konwar and Dr. Guruprasad. He said the experience and achievements of his teammates served as a great source of inspiration.
Dr. Guruprasad said the relay was originally scheduled for September 2025 but had to be postponed due to adverse weather conditions before finally taking place in July this year.
Recalling his journey, he said he first learned swimming at the St Aloysius swimming pool in Mangaluru with his son. He later trained in the sea at Udyavara and Thannirbhavi under the guidance of experienced open-water swimmers and coaches Sanketh Bengre and Chaitanya, which helped him develop the confidence and skills required for long-distance sea swimming.
He encouraged swimmers to look beyond pool competitions and explore the opportunities and challenges offered by open-water swimming.
Apart from swimming, Dr Guruprasad has also climbed Mount Kosciuszko, the highest peak in Australia. He has successfully completed the Catalina Channel swim in the Pacific Ocean and has now added the English Channel relay crossing in the Atlantic Ocean to his list of achievements.
Swimming coach Sanketh Bengre was also present at the press conference.