the goan I network
PANAJI
The adage, ‘age is just a number’ holds true for several senior citizen swimmers, who will be taking part at the 9th Goa Swimathon event scheduled to take place on March 23 and 24 at the Bambolim beach. A record 581 swimmers from across India, are taking part in this event. Happily, there will be a sizeable number of swimmers above the age of 65 taking part in what is turning out to be a regular feature at successive Goa Swimathons.
BR Gopal Rao (73) is a case in point. This Bengaluru-based swimmer, who does not look a day beyond 60, will be swimming the 5km distance on Saturday morning. Speaking to ‘The Goan Everyday’ on the phone from Bengaluru, Rao said: “The Goa Swimathon is a fantastic event and makes you want to come every year.”
It is no surprise that Rao is a very fit swimmer. The septuagenarian has represented India in the sport of water polo as a goalkeeper in the late 1960s and also has crossed the English Channel in a relay team in 2018. “My favourite stroke is the breast stroke and the butterfly, though I have begun swimming the freestyle stroke more recently,” Rao said.
Rao’s Bengaluru buddy, Mohan Sawkar (70) a practicing lawyer at the Bengaluru High Court is another senior swimmer taking part in the 5km race at the Goa Swimathon 2019. Sawkar who has represented the Karnataka state team as a swimmer in his younger days, has also crossed the English Channel in a relay team in 2014. Says the septuagenarian: “I continue to swim for the love of water and the company of friends. It also keeps me very fit.”
According to him, the Goa Swimathon is a very-well organised event. Among the ladies, 64-year-old, Pervin Batliwala is one of the senior swimmers from Mumbai. Pervin, who is otherwise a seasoned marathoner is using the sport of swimming to cross-train. In an email interview, Pervin said: “A lot of friends who had been for the Goa Swimathon last year were in praise for the event. This will be my first open-water swim and I am sure it will be great fun.”
Pervin who has successfully run the Boston, London and New York marathons is convinced that age is just a number. “One has to be young mentally. The rest follows. I have done numerous half and full marathons starting at the age of 50 and now I am 64. If you set your mind to take up a sport, you can do it,” asserts Pervin.
