The world’s longest swimming event is coming to Murshidabad — but some foreign swimmers remain uncertain
On Sunday, 6 September, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India will host what organizers say is the world’s longest national swimming competition. The main 81-kilometer race will begin at Ahiran Ghat in Jungipur and finish at K.N. College Ghat in Baharampur. On the same day, separate 19-kilometer races for men and women will start at Jiaganj Sadar Ghat and finish at K.N. College Ghat in Baharampur.
History and the event
The Murshidabad Swimming Association has sponsored and hosted the event since 1943. The competition was started by local freedom fighter Sailen Adhikary, popularly known as Lala da. “Lala da was a freedom fighter. He thought our youth needed to remain fit to fight with the Britishers. Swimming was the best way to keep them fit, so he started the swimming competition to encourage the youth of the area,” said Debendranath Das, secretary of the Murshidabad Swimming Association.
When first held in 1943, the event covered a distance of 74 km. In 1987 the route was extended to 81 km, beginning in the remote town of Ahiron and finishing at Gorabazar in Berhampore.
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Organizers have already begun preparations across Murshidabad for the event.
Confirmed entrants and origins:
- For the 81-kilometer division, 29 swimmers have been registered so far. Participants come from across West Bengal and neighboring Bangladesh, and there are also registered swimmers from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
- For the 19-kilometer races (men’s and women’s combined), 56 swimmers have been registered from the start at Jiaganj to the finish at Baharampur.
Visa uncertainties for foreign swimmers
- Relations between India and Bangladesh deteriorated in 2024, and no Bangladeshi swimmers received visas for that year’s event. Since last year, Bangladeshi swimmers have returned to compete in both the 81-km and 19-km divisions.
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- This year, organizers say four Bangladeshi male swimmers have so far had their visas confirmed.
- However, visa problems have left several international entries uncertain: seven swimmers from Argentina and Spain, and nine additional swimmers from Bangladesh, may not be able to participate in the 81-km race unless their visas are cleared.
- Organizers report that visa issues have also put a few entries for the 19-km divisions in doubt; if those problems are resolved, more competitors are expected to join.
Organizers’ statements and appeals
- Subhash Lala, convener of the Ahiran “starting committee” for the 81-km race, said that the 81-km category currently lists 29 registered competitors, including four female swimmers from Maharashtra.
- He added that the organizers have already contacted the state government and other authorities to resolve the visa and administrative issues. If necessary approvals arrive, participant numbers could increase.
- The organizers emphasize that the event is apolitical. They say the competition has been held with friendly ties to whichever party governs the state.
Funding and prizes
- From 2018 to 2020, during the Trinamool Congress government, the state sports department provided a grant of INR 500,000 per year to support the event. After the COVID years, that financial support stopped and has not yet been resumed.
- This year the organizers applied again to the state sports department for funding, but they have not received any response.
- Running the 81-km and the two 19-km races requires substantial funds. Organizers rely on donations from individuals, organizations, and large local bidi manufacturers to cover participant and winner prizes and food arrangements.
- The organizers regret that because their swimming association’s finances are weak, they cannot award large monetary prizes to winners this year.
- World’s longest 81 km swimming competition: 6 September, Murshidabad
- Start: Ahiran Ghat, Jungipur; Finish: K.N. College Ghat, Baharampur
- Same day: separate 19 km races for men and women from Jiaganj Sadar Ghat to Baharampur
- 29 confirmed competitors so far in the 81 km category (from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Bangladesh)
- 56 registered entrants so far in the 19 km divisions
- Visa uncertainties put 7 swimmers from Argentina and Spain and 9 additional swimmers from Bangladesh (81 km) in doubt
- So far, visas have been confirmed for four male swimmers from Bangladesh
- Organizers say the event is apolitical and runs with friendly ties to whichever party governs the state
- From 2018–2020 the state sports department provided annual grants of INR 500,000; funding stopped after COVID
- Organizers have applied again to the state sports department for financial help but have received no response yet
- Running the races requires significant funds; prizes and food depend on donations from local patrons (bidi manufacturers, individuals, organizations)
- The swimming association’s weak finances mean large cash prizes for winners are not possible this year
- Organizers have already contacted state authorities to resolve visa and administrative issues