IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL MISSION ‘BETI BACHAO, BETI PADHAO’

The Indian Open Water swim team “The Sea Hawks” is taking on the World Record for the longest open water swim in the world this month. This 6-man relay team, led by Wing Commander Paramvir Singh, is preparing to swim a distance of 490 kms along the Konkan coastline in support of the National Mission ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’. Towards this objective, the team intends to raise awareness and donations for Project Nanhi Kali, an NGO supporting the cause of the Under-privileged Girl Child Education in India.

​​About the challenge

The World record for the longest swim is currently held by Israel, for a total distance of 380 kms in 123.2 hrs. The Sea Hawks plan to start their swim from Dona Paula in Goa and culminate at the Gateway of India in Mumbai (490 kms), taking an approximate time of 156 hrs (about 6 and a half days).

The team will begin the Swimmathon on February 13, 2015 at 1600 hrs from Dona Paula, Goa and conclude at the Gateway of India on February 19, 2015 at 1400 hrs. The challenges include extreme exhaustion, changing tides (26 times), unpredictable weather conditions, speeding winds, sea sickness, contaminated waters and marine life, as well as cargo ships, ferries, fishing boats and nets passing the swimmers. The Swimming Federation of India (SFI) has deputed an independent observer who will observe and ratify the swim.

​​The Sea Hawks team

Wing Commander Paramvir Singh leads the team The Sea Hawks and has been blazing a trail of records for long in Open Water swims. He has crossed the daunting English Channel twice leading a 4-man relay team, swum two extremely tough channels in the Arabian Sea and, in 2014, he led the first team ever to swim around Mumbai in an anti-clockwise direction, mainly against the tide, recorded as the longest open water swim in Asia. He is joined in this challenge by teammates Sergeant Gullupilli Narhari, Sergeant Ankan Kumar Patel, Leading Aircraftman Vicky Tokas (all four Indian Air Force), Assistant Sub-inspector Ganesh Palande (Mumbai Police) and Manav Mehta.

​​About Project Nanhi Kali​​

Project Nanhi Kali empowers more than 100,000 girls across rural, tribal and urban regions in nine states of India by providing them with high-quality education support and resources. It also mobilizes communities to create mindset and behavior change. The project was started by Mr. Anand Mahindra in 1996. Since 2005, the programme is jointly managed by K. C. Mahindra Education Trust and Nandini Foundation.

Team Sea Hawks feels passionately about the recently launched National Mission by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and is dedicating this cause and challenge to the Nanhi Kali initiative.