Gopal Kharvi sets Guinness World Record in Swimming


Udupi, Dec 1, 2013: Ace swimmer Gopal Kharvi set a new Guinness World Record by swimming a distance of 3 km with his hands and legs chained on December 1, Sunday. Kharvi who started his swim from St Mary’s Island at 7.37 am with hands and legs tied with iron chains and reached Malpe beach mainland at 10.20 am, covering a distance of 3.07 km. Guinness World Records adjudicator Praveen Patel from London confirmed Kharvi’s record. Speaking at the stage programme, MP Jayaprakash Hegde said that government must take necessary steps to frame Kharvi’s future. He also said that Kharvi has taken loans of Rs 8 lakhs from various people and Shiroor Math and other people have helped him with amount of Rs 12 lakhs, hence government must help him repay the loan amount. Former MLA Raghupati Bhat said that most of the athletes are provided with jobs in banks; hence the nationalized banks must consider his talent and provide a job opportunity. District incharge minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, Udupi SP Dr Boralingaiah, ASP Santosh, Yashpal Suvarna and others were present.