Ace India swimmer Veerdhawal Khade and Avantika Chavan, both from Khar Gymkhana, emerged best in their respective men’s and women’s sections with 16 new records were established in the GMAAA senior and lower age group swimming meet, which concluded at Tata Swimming Pool, Chembur, today.
Ace India swimmer Veerdhawal Khade and Shlok Gupta, who bagged seven record-breaking golds’ between them, pose for a photo.
Veerdhawal, who is eyeing for a berth for the Rio Olympics, proved cut above the rest as added three golds – 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 100m butterfly- to his opening day’s gold in 50m freestyle and silver in 100m breaststroke to aggregate 33 points. His main rival was Shlok Gupta, from Mulund Swimming Pool, who finished second best was just two points behind him.
Veerdhawal, an Arjuna awardee in 2011, was bronze medalist in the Asian Games in 2010. He had also qualified for the last Olympics. He has five national records to his credit and has overall won over 100 golds at the national level competitions.
All Individual Champions pose for a Photo with GMAA officials
Avantika Chavan added further glory to Khar Gymkhana by emerging best in the women’s section with four golds with two of them being record-breaking efforts.
The best and the second best in various age groups were:
WOMEN: 1. Avantika Chavan (Khar Gym) – 28 pts – 4G with 2NMRs. 2. Aarti Patil (PSP) – 24 pts – 3G+1B with 1NMR (new meet record).
MEN: 1. Veerdhawal Khade (Khar Gym) – 33 pts – 4G+1S with 4NMRs and 1BMR. 2. Shlok Gupta (MSP) – 31 pts – 4G+1B with 3NMRs.
BOYS: U-6: 1. Vivaan Sethi (GSC) – 24 pts -3 golds+12 bronze. 2. Shreyank Parab (PSP) – 20 pts – 1G+2S+1B.
GIRLS: U-6: 1. Anannya Nayak (Vibgyor High)- 28 pts – 4G with 3 NMRs. 2. Siya Devrukhkar (MSS) – 20 pts – 4S.
BOYS: U-8: 1. Ethan Sequeirta (Ozone) – 24 pts – 3G+1B. 2. Armaan Jetha (Otters) -16 pts – 2S+2B.
GIRLS U-8: 1. Savali Patil (Vibgyor High) – 15 pts – 1G+1S+1B. 2. Pragati Kha (Goenka Edu.Trust) – 10 pts – 1G+3B.
Winners in the record-breaking events were:
MEN: 100m Freestyle: Veerdhawal Khade (KG) – 00:53.89 secs – Old record – Parikshit Shetty (Otters) – 00:55,59secs.
200m Breast Stroke: 1. Shlok Gupta (MSP) – 02:36.21 secs. – Old record – Shrikant Palande (PSP)- 02:40.32 secs.
50m Butterfly stroke: Veerdhawal Khade (KG) – 00:25.59 secs. Old record – Parikshit Shetty (Otters) – 00:55.59secs.
100m Butterfly stroke: Veerdhawal Khade (KG) – 00:58.99 secs. – Old record – Jason Smith (Khart Gym) – 01:00.25 secs.
WOMEN: 50m Backstroke: Avantika Chavan (Khar Gym) – 00:32.31 secs. – Old record – Avantika Chavan (KG) – 00:32.90 secs.
200m Breast Stroke: Aarti Patil (PS) – 02:58.11 secs. – Old record – Monique Gandhi (KG) – 02:58.86 secs.