Crossing the English Channel impossible without proper training: Elvis Ali Hazarika
GUWAHATI: Crossing the English Channel is impossible unless a swimmer undergoes proper training, feels veteran swimmer Elvis Ali Hazarika who recently crossed English Channel in both ways with his relay partner Rimo Saha.
Elvis today attended the ‘Guest of Gauhati Press Club’, a monthly programme of the organization, where the swimmer was felicitated by its president Sushmita Goswami and secretary Sanjoy Roy with xapi and gamosa.
Sharing his experience with the media persons on swimming the English Channel in today's event Elvis said, “It’s really very challenging and without proper training once can't cross the English Channel.”
The swimmer also described how he prepared himself. “I know that swimming in the pool will not help me at all when I shall go to swim the English Channel because I have to negotiate with huge wave there. So as a part of my preparation I decided to swim in the Brahmaputra River. Last one year I swam in the Brahmaputra on several oc-casions and I can say it helped me a lot to reach my goal,” said the swimmer.
It may be mentioned here that Elvis and his partner Rimo recently crossed the English Channel in both ways in-volving relay swimming. It was the first occasion when a swimmer from Assam successfully crossed the English Channel. The total distance of the swimming was 78 km and they took nearly 30 hours to reach England after touching France.
Elvis today admitted that he was a little bit lucky this time. “The weather was very bad when I reached England and initially authorities of the English Channel were not allowing any one to cross the Channel. However luckily the weather started to turn good and they advised me to prepone my date which I gladly accepted,” said the interna-tional medal winner swimmer.
On the difficulties he faced during the swimming in the Channel Elvis said, “ Its huge. The water was very cold and there were several ocean creatures in the form of jellyfish, seals and others which disturbed all the time. You have to take extra care during swimming otherwise there is a chance of severe injuries. During the return trip the weather was also bad and once my guide advised me to stop swimming. But I didn't quit.”
About his future plans the swimmer said, “I have planned to cross all seven Channel in the World if I receive fi-nancial support from different quarters. Nowadays, Channel swimming is very expensive.”
The event was also attended by veteran journalist Pranoy Bordoloi.
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