Swimming is a gruelling sport but two persons, aged 51 and 55, defied their age and swam a distance as long as 25 km, in the sea. There were six others, who were younger to them or half of their age, who completed the course, which is the first leg of the police triathlon, an ultra endurance adventure being organised as part of the 150 year of modern policing in India.
The feat by Additional Director General of Police Rajiv Trivedi and Deputy SP of Maharashtra Balasaheb Ramchandra Ghadge and others was to exemplify the determination and hard work of the police and to create awareness among the people to stay physically fit.
India’s Olympic probable and a BSF Sub-Inspector Mandar Anandrao Devase, Deputy Commandant of CISF in Goa S. Jaya Kumar, a constable from Vijayawada Chaitanya Tulasi, a software engineer Sunil Menon, a constable from Nizamabad N. Srinivas and a local constable Srinivas too completed the course, from Bheemunipatnam to R.K. Beach here in around 10 hours 15 minutes.
The start was arduous thanks to the sea conditions and jelly fish and they breathed easy only from the half-way mark. The swimmers were well supported by navigators RI of APPA Kiran Kumar and constable V. Srinivas throughout the 25-km route. Mr. Trivedi thanked the city police for providing support. Mr. Trivedi, who swam English Channel, the Palk Strait and Strait of Gibraltor, worked as SP here and fell in love with the city. When the police were celebrating 150 years he thought of organising a good event and decided that the more than 150-year old municipality of Bheemunipatnam, first municipality in the State and second in the country, and the modern Visakhapatnam should get connected and the triathlon was planned. DGP Dinesh Reddy okayed the proposal and wanted police officers and men from other States also invited. The triathlon has also attracted Mr. Ghadge who swam Strait of Gibraltar five times in the past, once with Mr. Trivedi. Wife of Mr. Trivedi Udaya was on the boat sailing along the route. Sunil Menon had a slight discomfort but pulled himself up and completed the course. His wife was also on a boat encouraging him. Chairman of VPT Ajeya Kallam said it was a great adventure by the police team and should inspire the youngsters. Commissioner of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy said the performance was not an act of physical fitness.
A logo suggesting 150 years of policing in India, painted during a competition for school children by Sri Prakah Vidyaniketan’s Shanmukh was presented to Mr. Trivedi.
The cycling leg of the triathlon will be flagged off on Sunday. The participants will stay overnight at Anakapalle. SP of Visakhapatnam G. Srinivas will accompany the participants on cycle up to Anakapalle. The cycling leg ends in Hyderabad on December 31 and a marathon would be held on January 1, 2013 to mark the end of triathlon.
