The Hindu : Sport / Swimming : Wilson to attempt Palk Strait again

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Friday, May 28, 2004

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Sport - Swimming

Wilson to attempt Palk Strait again

By Stan Rayan

KOCHI, MAY 27. At the halfway mark on the Park Strait, he was relaxed. Wilson Cherian was even cracking jokes mid-sea and laughing frequently as he came to the boat for short gulps of water.

"The tide is getting strong, the waves too. But it's okay. I can make it," said the Chennai-based Southern Railway Assistant Sports Officer a few hours later.

In the end, even after swimming nearly 40 km in a 10-hour toil from Talaimannar in Sri Lanka, Wilson, and his trainee S.P. Muralidharan, could not reach Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu. But the effort has given Wilson a lot of confidence. "I plan to give the Palk Strait another try this August. And this time, it will most probably be with Bula Choudhary. I've already spoken to her and she is quite keen on the idea too," said the 40-year-old Wilson.

Bula, the first Asian woman to do the English Channel twice, has already got the necessary clearance from the various ministries for her maiden Palk Strait attempt.

"And this time, we plan to speak to the Navy, learn a few things about the tide and winds on the Palk Strait and be better prepared," said Wilson, who is now in his Pala home, near Kottayam, for a short holiday.

Wilson now coaches the Railway swimmers and guides a few Indian pacemen at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai. "Our bowlers are good swimmers too. Tinu Yohannan is probably the best, he can do 60 laps at the MCC School's 25-metre pool. Irfan Pathan is also good, he can easily do 20 laps," he said.

Wilson last competed in the Senior Nationals 10 years ago. He is now one of the National swimming selectors, like his wife Shiny who is a National selector in athletics.

And after the long break from the circuit, he now is keen to try out the distances. His first Palk Strait attempt early this week was not planned properly. And after the Palk Strait effort in August, it could be the English Channel.

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