Puttur: Sinchana Gowda from Sudana Residential School, Puttur, who is one of the youngest female surfers of India and four-time National medalist, was gifted with a custom-made surf board by members of Puttur Aquatic Club and well-wishers at a function here at Balawana Swimming Pool on November 15.
From left to right: Niroop Kotian, Ceri Weeks, Sinchana Gowda, Partha Varanashi, Sweekrith, Trishul
Partha Varanashi, the lease owner of Balawana Swimming Pool and the person who coached ace swimmer Vaishnav Hegde had introduced Sinchana to surfing in 2013. Partha took the initiative and contacted the elite swimming instructor of Tasmania, Ceri Weeks who brought the board all the way to Puttur from Australia. This board was custom-made by a reputed surf board maker Nick Stranger in Australia specially to cater to Sinchana’s needs in a record time of three days.
