Navi Mumbai: Mantra Mangesh Kurhe (16), a student at Father Agnel Junior College, Vashi, and a swimmer at Navi Mumbai Sports Association, achieved first position in a 2 km international Oceanman swimming competition held recently in Malaysia. Competing in the 12 to 19 age group, she took 36 minutes and 23 seconds to complete the swim among hundreds of swimmers from across the globe. Her outstanding performance earned her the championship trophy for being the fastest female swimmer across all age groups in the 2 km category. The competition saw participation from 37 nations, said an ecstatic Kurhe.Despite challenging choppy sea conditions, she successfully completed the race and emerged victorious, said her coach Sanket Sawant, who trains her for years. This remarkable achievement qualified her for the upcoming world championship in Dubai, said her mother, Trupti Kurhe, who was her biggest support system so far. “It was great to challenge the top long-distance swimmers from various countries. Though the task was too gruelling, I gave my cent percent to touch the finishing line first among the lot,” said Kurhe.Mantra excels in both indoor and outdoor swimming disciplines. Two years ago, she established a record by swimming from Dharamtar to Gateway of India, covering 38 km in 7 hours and 51 minutes. This feat broke existing female swimming records for the Dharamtar event, earning recognition in both the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records. At the 2024 Union Territory Beach Games in Diu, she represented Maharashtra and was the sole medallist from the state in swimming events. Her swimming journey began at age 4.Her achievements include over 300 medals and 32 championship trophies at district, state, and national levels. The Oceanman competition marked her first international swimming event, where she delivered exceptional results in her debut appearance. For these accomplishments, she was honoured by NMSA officials. She has set her sights on trying her hand at popular international channels and representing the country at the highest level of competition.
