For Khar Gymkhana’s ace swimmers Zara Bakshi (5 golds and a silver) and Nimesh Muley (4 golds, a silver and 2 bronze), the final day of the 37th Otters Club Open Swimming Championships, proved to be continuation of yet another gold haul hunt, having earlier, made a clean sweep in their respective women’s and men’s events in the MIG CC event, held earlier this month.
Star Asian and Commonwealth Games swimmer Vridhawal Khade (2nd from right) alongwith other age group champions pose with their trophies.
Zara though topped in five of their six events that she took part, the existing marks eluded her in all these events. Moreover, she finished second best behind ace swimmer Rujuta (Vridhawal Khade’s wife) in the women’s 50m free style as well. .
Seasoned Nimesh Muley was just unstoppable in the men’s section, topping 100m butterfly stroke (00:58.50 secs), 50m free style (00:22.64), 100m free style (00:51.17) and 200m free style (01:56.78 ). But like Zara, he could not better any of the existing timings. Incidentlly, Nimesh finished second best to Ashwin Jaiswar ,of MGMO, who won the 200m individual medley event (02:11.24).
However, MGMO’s Archit Morvekar’s two-record breaking efforts, viz. in 100m breast stroke (01:09.03) and 100m free style 00:53.18) in the boys under-215 events brought cheers to his Club. While Forest Club’s Naishi Ruhil with three golds and two silvers excelled for her club.
The individual champions in various age groups were: MEN: Nimesh Muley (Khar Gym) – 4Golds+1 silver+2 bronze. WOMEM: Zara Bakshi (KG)- 5G+1S.
BOYS U-15: Shwet Poojary (Forest Club) )- 1 NMR: 2G+3S+1S. Boys U-13: Kabir Kubhchandani (KG)- 3G+2S. Boys U-11: Rivan Kolahi (MGMO)- 4G+2S. Boys U-9: Daksh Shah (Ozone S.P) – 2G+1S+2B. Boys U–7: Shaurya Agnihotri (CSMSS)- 3G+1S.
GIRLS U-15: Naishi Ruhil (Forest Club)- 3G+2S. Girls U-13: Saanvi Deshwal (Otters Club)) – 1 NMR: 5G+1S. Girls U-11: Heeva Pateil (Bom YMCA)- 3G+2B. Girls U-9: Pratyasha Guchhait (IIT, Bombay)- 4G+1B. Girls U-7: Pahel Shah (CSMSS)- 4G.