Belagavi’s Anish Pai clinched second position in the prestigious sea swimming competition held between Sunk Rock and the Gateway of India. Organized by the Maharashtra State Amateur Aquatic Association in Mumbai on February 16, the event witnessed intense competition. Anish, a Class 9 student of KLE International School, covered the 5km distance in an impressive 42 minutes and 57 seconds, missing the top spot by a mere second. Last year, he had triumphed by securing first place in the 60th edition of the race.

Another young talent from Belagavi, Skandh Ghatge, just nine years old and a specially-abled student of Samiti English Medium School, also bagged second place in his category. Skandh is the son of Rahul Ghatge, a travel entrepreneur. Anish, who has a remarkable track record in competitive swimming, is the son of Ajay Pai, president of the Belagavi Hotel Owners Association.

The competition saw the participation of around 500 swimmers from various regions, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and beyond. Braving turbulent sea conditions, swimmers had to complete the 5km stretch and physically touch the finish table to conclude the race. Winners received a medal, a certificate of merit, and cash prizes.

Both Anish and Skandh are now gearing up for upcoming open-water swimming tournaments under the Swimming Federation of India. Their training is being supervised by renowned coach Umesh Kalaghatagi.

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