Swimmers Elvis Hazarika, Rimo Saha first relay team from India to cross North Channel

The ace swimmers also became the first from their respective states to successfully cross the North Channel, a strait between north-eastern Northern Ireland and south-western Scotland, in relay swimming. The duo is the first Asian relay team to cross the North Channel and Hazarika is the oldest swimmer from India to achieve the feat in 14 hours and 38 minutes. "I have been waiting for this day since a long time.

After a lot of effort and hours of pushing myself to work harder every day, I successfully became the first Assamese (North East) to cross the North Channel by swimming it in Relay Northern Ireland to Scotland," Hazarika said on his Facebook profile. The team had to go through a lot of challenges, especially the huge Jelly fish that were accompanying them all the way, to complete the swim, he added. "A dream come true, and proud moment for all Indians and Assamese people.

Thank you to all my friends, family, specially Pranami and Presley, for all your love and support," Hazarika said. The Assamese swimmer dedicated the rare feat to his wife Pranami as a gift on her birthday. "Thank you everyone for your love and prayers because of which I've successfully completed this," he added.

Saha also said that after two years of hard training, he achieved one of his most ambitious and dream goals on Tuesday. "I was the First Person from West Bengal ever to swim from Northern Ireland to Scotland, crossing the #North_Channel_Swim_2022 with Relay Swim," he wrote in his Facebook profile. Saha also expressed his gratitude to West Bengal TMC MLA Gautam Chowdhury for his "effort, support and best wishes".