Nearly 1,100 swimmers from across the country are participating in the 14th Masters National Aquatic Championship, which got under way in the city on Wednesday.
The competition, organised by the Karnataka Swimming Association, will be on till Friday. The oldest of the participants is Ravi Kumar Nishad, 93, of Uttar Pradesh, followed by Rambhaji Babaji Wagmare and Ramakrishna Aranake — both aged 86 — from Maharashtra.
Among the women, Bhagawati Oza of Vadodara, Gujarat, is a source of inspiration for the other participants, drawn from across India. Nearly 155 participants are from Maharasthra, while Karnataka has 120 participants. The Karnataka Swimming Association initiated the concept of an aquatic meet for ‘masters’ (senior participants) in 2004 and it has been held regularly since. The aim is to promote a healthy lifestyle and physical fitness.
Though the competition is recognised by the Swimming Federation of India, participants have to bear their cost of travel, accommodation and other expenses. The events will conclude on Friday and will be followed by the inter-club championships, to be held from November 5 to 7, the organisers said.