Nagpur: City-based endurance athlete Rajendra Jaiswal (63) added another milestone to his sporting journey by completing a 25.65km continuous swim in Narmada River. Jaiswal achieved the feat at Pipariya in Madhya Pradesh on March 11, completing the demanding swim in eight hours and 13 minutes. The endurance attempt covered more than 25km without a break, making it one of the longest documented continuous swims in the Narmada. Originally from Pipariya and now a resident of Nagpur, Jaiswal undertook the challenge as part of an effort to promote fitness and raise awareness about river conservation. The event was organised by Jai Mata Di Samiti, Pipariya. Completing the endurance swim at the age of 63 has also drawn admiration from local residents and sports enthusiasts. A felicitation ceremony was held after the swim in Pipariya, where local dignitaries and prominent citizens gathered to honour Jaiswal for the accomplishment. Speaking about the motivation behind the challenge, Jaiswal said he was inspired by the ‘Fit India Movement’ launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.“Through this attempt, my aim was to motivate the youth to adopt a fit lifestyle, spread awareness about keeping the Narmada clean and also encourage tourism in the region,” he said. Jaiswal is well known in endurance sports circles for regularly taking on physically demanding challenges despite being in his sixties. At the age of 62, he successfully completed the ‘Full Ironman California’ in the United States, becoming the first Indian to achieve the feat at that age. His journey is particularly inspiring given that around 13 years ago, doctors had advised surgery on both his knees. Instead, Jaiswal focused on disciplined fitness training and recovery, eventually regaining strength and continuing to participate in endurance events over the years.
