The 1st All Shillong Interschool Swimming Championship 2025, organised by True North Fitness Centre and Swimming Academy, began today here at the Lapalang centre.
The event is a two-day championship at True North’s indoor heated swimming pool, with over 155 students from 25 schools across the capital city taking part, backed up by friends, family and well-wishers cheering them on in an atmosphere of healthy competition.
The first day was flagged off by Keith Syiemlieh, the senior-most member of True North Centre.
Day 1 witnessed enthusiastic competition from all schools, especially between St Edmund’s, St Anthony’s, Assam Rifles Public School (Sports), Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Girls HS School, Seven Set School, Pine Mount School, Loreto Convent and others.
Twenty-six events, including the 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 50m backstroke, grueling 200m individual medley, were conducted today for both boys and girls, who were divided into different age categories – 18-20, 15-17, 13-14, 11-12 and 9-10. The heats were conducted in the morning while the finals were held in the afternoon.
Medals were distributed for today’s events in the evening. Four dignitaries did the honours – Kishore Subba, a senior members of the Meghalaya Swimming Association, Aubrey Laloo, proprietor of Body Zoo Gym and pioneer of professional bodybuilding in Shillong, and two brilliant young role models – Rifiness Warjri, the youngest person from Meghalaya to summit Mt Everest, and Bonafilia Shullai, a member of the Indian national U-17 women’s national football team.
Action on Day 2 will begin at 10am. The editor of The Shillong Times, Padma Shri Patricia Mukhim, has kindly consented to be the chief guest.