Puttur: Sixteen-year-old Trishul, whose father is employed at the Balavana Swimming Pool in Puttur as a watchman, has won a total of 10 medals at the recently concluded Rescue India- 2017 Championship (Under-16 category).

He has won nine gold and one silver at the national level surf life competition. He won medals in the Manekin tow with fins 100 metres, Manikin carry 50 metres and 100 metres, obstacles carry 200 metres, super life saver, 1-km beach race and beach flag.

The event was organised by the Rashtriya Life Saving Society (India) (RLSS (I)) and the national championship has pool, beach and ocean games.

Rescue India is a platform for all RLSS (I) elite athletes to perform their best and gain an opportunity to be at the selection camp for Team India 2018 to represent at the World Rescue Life Saving Championships 2018 at Adelaide, Australia. The pool events were held at the Government of Goa Sports Complex at Campal, Panaji. The pool events are Manikin Carry, Manikin tow, obstacle swim and super life safer. The Beach and Ocean events were held at Chivla Beach, Malvan.

Trishul is a I PU student from St Philomena College in Puttur. He is the son of Shivanna a watchman at the pool and Nalini. Trishul has been a very keen observer of the Austswim course that was launched by Swimming Coach Partha Varanashi almost three years ago. He also works as a volunteer in the pool.

It was RLSS (I) Centre head Niroop G R who saw potential in the boy and brought him for the Nippers Life Saving programme that is organised at Tannirbhavi beach. Trishul attended about 12 classes of this course and won the Nipper overall championship for the beach events about two years ago.
During his spare time, Trishul manages to do odd jobs so that he can earn some money. A few parents have been helping him during competitions. For instance, last year, when he was selected to participate in the School Games Federation of India (SGFI) competition, one of his coach Vasanth suggested that parents could contribute and accordingly, president PAC Prathima Hegde with the support of parents arranged for funds.

Coach Partha Varanashi said, “Trishul is being trained in distance swimming. He has always been the favourite of Austswim Course presenter Ceri Weeks. He is a quick learner and eligible to participate for the World Championship. However, the biggest challenge is to mobilise funds as he needs to train harder. Since Life Saving is likely to be part of Olympics 2024, Trishul has bright chances of representing India.”

Team Karnataka had five participants representing RLSS (I), Mangaluru. Varanashi won three medals in the master’s category, Gangan Ullalmutt won four gold and one silver, Shrikrishna Vasanth and Rohit who participated as a team won one bronze medal in rope throw and Teresa Lien from Germany who was part of Team Karnataka also won four medals.