Assam's Seven-Year-Old Kiuchenghan Phukan Becomes Youngest Swimmer to Conquer Elephanta–Gateway Open Sea Route

Seven-year-old swimmer Kiuchenghan Phukan has brought pride to Assam by creating a world record, becoming the youngest swimmer to complete a solo open-sea swim from Elephanta Island to the Gateway of India in Mumbai.

Kiuchenghan successfully covered the nearly 23-kilometre sea route in an impressive time of 3 hours and 29 minutes, marking a historic achievement at such a young age.

The feat follows the footsteps of renowned Assamese open-water swimmer Elvis Ali Hazarika, who was the first from the state to complete a solo swim on the same route in December 2023, bringing national attention to Assam’s growing presence in open-water swimming.

Kiuchenghan is currently training under coach Babul Gurung at the Dr Zakir Hussain Sports Complex, part of the Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Project at Sarusajai, where she continues to hone her skills in competitive swimming.

Congratulating the young swimmer, Bhaskar Das, Secretary of the Assam Swimming Association, praised her determination and discipline, and extended best wishes for her future endeavours.

In recent years, the Elephanta Island–Gateway of India swim has gained prominence, with several notable swimmers attempting the challenging route. Among them are 10-year-old Aanvi and IPS officer Krishna Prakash, both of whom successfully completed the swim in 2023.

Kiuchenghan’s record-breaking performance further talks about Assam’s rising contribution to open-water swimming and stands as an inspiration for young athletes across the country.

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