GANGTOK Sept. 23: Himalayan Aquatic Championship 2007, a two-day swimming competition organised by Sikkim Amateur Swimming Association, concluded here today. Hundreds of young swimmers from Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim participated in the competition held at TNA School here. Karma Chowang Topden, a student of North Point School, Darjeeling, who got 26 points, was adjudged best individual swimmer. He bagged three gold and one silver medals. Sidhant Prashad from Sikkim Amateur Swimming Association finished second with 24 points. He bagged two gold and two silver medals. Simon Daimei from North Point School, Darjeeling, on the other hand, was the third best swimmer of the competition, with 21 points and three gold medals in his kitty. A total of 25 matches with six different categories of swimming were held during the competition. In Free Style 50 metres event for men, Sidhant Prashad from SASA covered the distance in 32.88 seconds. In 400 metres, Ugyen Palden from St Augustine, Kalimpong, covered the distance in 7.29 seconds. In 50 metres women category, Helen Kamps (38.06 seconds) was the winner, said Mr MK Subba, general secretary of SASA. In 50-metre category, Pulla Dhar from Dr Graham Homes covered the distance in 41.71 seconds and in women category, Janani Pradhan (45.56 seconds) was the winner, Mr Subba, added. "We had organised Sikkim Aquatic Meet in 2005. However, the response then was not satisfactory. We had then organised North-East Meet in which participants from Tripura, Assam, Manipur and Sikkim participated. This year, the contest had been organised in a bigger way," Mr Subba, said. Addressing the closing ceremony of the competition, Mr PS Goley, minister for sports and youth affairs, said: "I really feel proud that SASA is doing well in promoting swimming in national level. We are always there to support SASA."
