Ace Assam swimmer Elvis Ali Hazarika successfully made a glorious record-breaking expedition of crossing the North Channel, a strait connecting the Irish Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. Elvis has been preparing for 20 days to fulfil his dream of crossing the channel. He became the first Assamese to do so.
The swimmer resorted to social media and posted a video in which he stated, “After waiting for around 3 years, finally we will be taken to the North Channel on September 20. I have been practising very hard at 10, 11, and 12 degrees celsius for this for the past 20 days because the water of the North Channel is choppy, very cold and the wind is also very strong.”
“I successfully have become the first Assamese ( North East) to cross the North Channel by swimming it in Relay Northern Ireland to Scotland. We had to go through a lot of challenges. Especially the huge Jellyfish that were accompanying us all the way! We are the first Asian Relay team to cross the North Channel and I am the first oldest swimmer from India to have crossed the North Channel to clock a time of 14hrs 38mins. A dream come true, and a proud moment for all Indians and Assamese people. #JoiAaiAxom,” Ali added
Elvis’ effort is part of his training for the English Channel adventure he plans to undertake next year. Elvis recently became the first person from Northeast India to complete the 200-kilometre Indo-Arabian Gateway Circle in 53 hours in March 2022. Elvis made history last year when he became the first Assamese to swim 38 kilometres from Dharamtar Jetty to the Gateway of India in the Arabian Sea.