Guwahati is celebrating a rare sporting milestone after seven-year-old Kiuchenghan Phukon created history by becoming the world’s youngest swimmer to complete the open-sea swim from Elephanta Island to the Gateway of India, according to Assam’s Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Nandita Gorlosa.
The achievement has drawn attention back home in Guwahati, where the young swimmer trains and where her journey in competitive swimming began.
Seven-year-old Kiuchenghan Phukon, who trains in Guwahati, has become the world’s youngest swimmer to complete the Elephanta Island to Gateway of India open-sea swim. Certified by OWAAF, the feat marks a historic moment for Assam and Northeast India in open-water swimming.
The Record-Breaking Swim
The open-sea swim, widely considered one of India’s most challenging routes, was completed on Wednesday, February 4. The Open Water Amateur Aquatics Federation (OWAAF) certified that Kiuchenghan successfully completed the Elephanta Jetty to Gateway of India route.
Officials confirmed the certified swim distance at 12 kilometres, which the young swimmer completed in 3 hours and 29 minutes. The route is often described informally as stretching close to 13 km due to sea currents and navigation paths.
With this, Kiuchenghan also became the first female swimmer from Northeast India to complete an open-sea swim in the Arabian Sea.
Guwahati’s Role in the Journey
Kiuchenghan’s training base is the Dr Zakir Hussain Aquatic Complex at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, Sarusajai, one of Guwahati’s key sports infrastructure hubs.
Coached by Babul Gurung, the young swimmer has been undergoing structured training in Guwahati, where officials say her discipline and endurance were carefully developed before attempting the open-sea challenge.
Recognition From the State
Announcing the achievement, Minister Nandita Gorlosa said the feat brought “immense pride to Assam” and highlighted the importance of early-age sports training.
Sports officials in Guwahati noted that the success reflects the growing impact of state-supported aquatic facilities and professional coaching available in the city.
Why This Matters for Guwahati
Guwahati has increasingly emerged as a training hub for young athletes across disciplines, and Kiuchenghan’s achievement places the city firmly on the national open-water swimming map.
Coaches and sports administrators say the feat will likely inspire more parents and young athletes in Guwahati to pursue competitive swimming and endurance sports.
What Happens Next
Officials said Kiuchenghan is expected to continue structured training in Guwahati, with future national and international open-water events under consideration. Any upcoming attempts will be planned in consultation with coaches and sports authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How long was Kiuchenghan Phukon’s open-sea swim?
The swim was officially certified at 12 kilometres by OWAAF, completed in 3 hours and 29 minutes.
Q2. Where does Kiuchenghan Phukon train?
She trains at the Dr Zakir Hussain Aquatic Complex at Sarusajai in Guwahati.