REJOICING IN CITY
Pakistan is
Proud of Him Says Azam
BY OUR SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The news of Brojen Das’s record- breaking
feat yesterday caused no surprise among the sports lover of the city although
it aroused considerable enthusiasm among them. As soon as Radio Pakistan
broke the news yesterday afternoon it spread like wild fire and was
repeatedly announced at the Dacca Stadium swimming pool where the East
Pakistan Swimming championship was going on.
The East Pakistan Governor, Lt. Gen. Azam Khan sent a cable
to Das congratulating him for his success. The Governor, who set the cable to
the Pakistani High Commissioner in U.K. to covey the message to Das added: “Pakistan is proud of him”.
The East Pakistan Sports Federation has also set a
congratulatory message to Broje, it was learn. Besides, a number of sport
fans including the Director of Fire Services have sent cable congratulating
Brojen.
Our London Correspondent adds that the Pakistani High
Commissioner in U.K. General Yusuf personally telephoned Brojen to congratulate
him.
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Swims Channel in 10 Hours, 35
Min.
ARGENTINIAN BECOMES FIRST MAN TO CROSS BOTH WAYS
From: YEHIA SYED
MORNING NEWS SERVICE
London,
Sept 22 : Pakistan Channel swimmer, Brojen Das this morning smashed
11-year-old world record of France to England Channel swim by full 15
minutes.
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The 30-years-old swimmer from Dacca, East Pakistan
established two world records in one attempt – setting up a new world record
of 10 hours 35 minutes from France to England Channel swim and of swimming
Channel six times.
Altogether three world records were set up in
Channel swim here this morning, two created by Brojen Das and one by
Argentinean swimmer, Antonio Abertondo, who swam the Channel both ways
non-stop in 43 hours flat. He thus became first man ever to swim Channel both
ways non-stop.
Brojen Das began his record
breaking swim on September 21 at 6 p.m. (GMT) at Cap Gris Nez and finished
this morning at 4.35 am (GMT) at Saint Margaret’s Bay, a mile or so from
Dover Harbour, Brojen, swam the Channel twice within 12 days which itself is
a feat; for no swimmer has yet successfully swam the Channel twice within 12
days.
A tired Brojen told Morning News after
finishing his record-breaking swim this morning that although he has achieved
his life ambition for his country and people he was sorry that he could not
break the record of 10 hours 50 minutes set in 1950 by an Egyptian swimmer,
Hassan Abdel Rahim by full 32 minutes which he could have done. He has
further plans up his sleeves but he will think over them before announcing he
told me.
In today’s swim Brojen was accompanied by
his manager Mohammed Ali and to him also goes the credit for Brojen’s
success, and by J. U. Wood, Sectary, Channel Swimming Association, who acted
as official observer. The boat which accompanied him was “Victor” captained
by Len Hutchinson who has accompanied
Brojen on all his six crossings.
Last night the sea was calm and sea
temperature was, when he started, 64 degrees which fell by one degree when he
finished. His strokes when he started were 62 per minutes and finished
downing 42 per minutes. It was BBC Home Service, which broke the news of Brojen’s
record-breaking swim to world this morning in its 8 o’clock
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After completing the world
record channel swim
news giving full
details. Brojen is expected to appear on BBC TV this evening.
Today
people of Dover are very happy as “our Brojen” has set up two world record in
one attempt as they expected from him.
Reuter adds: Argentine Swimming Instructor, Antonio Abertondo
and Pakistani swimmer Brojen Das today shattered English Channel swimming
records.
Abertondo, 42 landed here to become the first man ever to swim
the tough swirling 20-odd miles of sea between England and France each way
non-stop. Das set up a 10-hour 35-minutes France to England all time record.
Abertondo’s 43-hour history making marathon silenced for ever expert who had
believed the feat humanly impossible.
The 15-stone Buenos Aires swimmer crawled exhausted over
the rocks at St. Margarets Bay here as dawn broke today eyes and lips
swollen, to throw himself, weeping into the arms of his adviser, Channel
swimmer Sam Rocket.
Mr. Rocket told reporters: “It took Antonio about two hours to
complete the last mile. He more or less lost his faculties and only his
subconscious kept him going”.
“During the last few hours he suffered hallucinations. It was
agonizing, and I never want to see anything like it again.”
Brojen Das,
30 from Dacca arrived at St. Margarets only few minutes after Abertondo. His
time shattered the 1950 – France-England record of 10 hours 50 minutes by
Egyptian Hassan Abdel Rehim. It was Das’s sixth Channel swim-two more than any other man. He told reporters :
“Next year I hope to attempt the non-stop double.”
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