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After "marathon
boy" Budhia Singh's long-distance running feats,
it's the turn of five-year-old Santanu Rath to create
a splash in the swimming pool. Santanu, a Class II
student, has become a master swimmer at his tender
age. He can float for hours together and swim across a
200-metre tank four time at a stretch. Under
the watchful eyes of his father Prasanna Kumar Rath, Santanu practices every
day for at least five hours at Markand pond, one of the holy thanks in the
city where hundreds of devotees take a dip for ablution. |
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Prasanna began to train his son when Santanu was only
a year old. " I used to take my son to the tank
and teach him the basic skills of swimming. I was
surprised to see him picking the skills at ease even
at such a young age". Prasanna said.
"I can across the pond four times without a
break. Besides, I have learnt the skills to float on the water for hours
together," a beaming Santanu said. The boy added that he had also learnt
various style of swimming. Though Santanu could not name his swimming idol,
he said he never missed any swimming competition
aired on television. "I want to go a long way so that people know my name as
a master swimmer, "he said.
Although Santanu has not complained of any
physical problem due to his swimming sessions, Prasanna is, however; worried
about his son's future. "I know he has mastered some extraordinary skills
but has not yet participated in any swimming competition. Such events are
rarely organised in the state or even outside,
" Santanu's father said. He added that Santanu needed a lot of exposure and
encouragement to become a champion swimmer. " Though we hail from a poor
family, we will try to do everything for him," said Prasanna, who works as a
librarian in a city- based library. |
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