Dhurve family swims to glory
   Date :29-Apr-2019

 
 
Sports Reporter:
 
Enters Asian Book of Records by becoming first family of four from Asia to complete adventure sea swimming 
 
FAMILY of international swimmer Sukhdeo Dhurve including wife Vaishali, son Sarthak and daughter Tanvi made Nagpur proud by entering into the Asian Book of Records when they successfully covered a distance of about 16 kilometres from Elephanta to Gateway of India on Sunday. The family members, in a relay, covered the distance in four hours and 31 minutes. Sarthak was the first one to enter sea water (7.52 am). Maharashtra State Amateur Swimming Association’s inspectors Sunil Mayekar and Neel Labde and NIS swimming coach Sanjay Batwe handled the technical aspect of the race. They were recording the number of arms per minute of all the swimmers. Sarthak was swimming at the rate of 80 arms per minute. After he had covered four kilometres, police constable Sukhdeo took over. He was faster than his son at 100 arms and moved swiftly in large waves.
 
 
 Sarthak Dhurve taking plunge in waters at Elephanta Jetty.
 
 
At the end of nine kilometres, Vaishali replaced him and freestyling recorded 60 arms per minute. When eleven kilometres were completed, nine-year-old Tanvi replaced her mother. With pacemaker Prapti Bawankar in company and constant cheers from the supporters, Tanvi also recorded 60 arms per minute. During the final stages Sukhdeo re-entered sea waters and reached the destination at 25 minutes past 12 noon. Various sports associations and social organisations welcomed the family at Gateway of India garlanding them. At the outset, after the family and supporters reached Elephanta jetty by boat, Sarthak performed pooja of the sea and took plunge into the waters at 7.52 am.
 

 Vaishali Dhurve moving ahead towards Gateway of India.
 
 
To take note of the event, Asian Book of Records’ Dr Sandeep Singh was present. Former Deputy Collector and Late Wamanrao Dive Charitable Trust’s Sudhir Dive, Dhanshree Dive and Mumbai DIG Krishnaprakash were also present.
 
Dhurve, who was delighted after completing the assignment, promised to go one step further. “I am very happy to have completed this event... my first with the family. But I will not stop here. My dream is to make it to the Guinness Book of Records,” he said while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ from Mumbai. To make the dream of Dhurves into reality, following well-wishers lent support: Satish Madavi, Rahul Pande, Ajay Uike, Nanu Neware, Vaijanti Mandavdhare, Shekhar Gajbhiye, Vijayl Koli, Preetam Koli, Kunal Koli, Madhukar Gavit, Nishant Raut, Amol Khode, Amit Kadwe, Mona Uike, Harsha Bawankar, Nikhil Mundle, Dr Nilesh Pande, Pappu Thakur, Vikram Bhonsale, Gandhi, Arun Kapse, Deputy Director Sports Dr Jaiprakash Dubale, Dr Sambhaji Bhonsale, Vishal Bhagat and Jyoti Patel. The event was held under the banner of Late Wamanrao Dive Charitable Trust and Mihir Sen Swimming and Adventure Sporting Club.