Masudur Rahman To Swim Palk Strait  Masudur Rahman |
Physically challenged swimmer Masudur Rahman Baidya is all set out to cross the Palk Strait in July next year after his successful expedition of the English Channel and the Strait of Gibraltar.
The 41-year-old swimmer, who lost both his legs from the knee-down in a train mishap in his young days, will swim the 35 km long strait separating India and Sri Lanka .He will start from Talaimannar in Sri Lanka and touch the shore at Dhanushkodi of Tamil Nadu .
Masudur, the first male double amputee below the knee to cross the English Channel, announced about his new venture on Thursday at a function.
"Talks are now on with the defence and home ministries of both the countries," Masudur said at a programme where he was felicitated on the 12th anniversary of his English Channel triumph.
The entire Palk Strait expedition will be sponsored by the Silicon Group of Companies, which has also named Masudur as its brand ambassador.
The event saw Masudur Rahman enter the water once again after eight years in his effort to get back to shape before his new venture.
Jowar, a Bengali musical band paid tribute to the ace swimmer by rendering two of their compositions on him.
Masudur had earlier declared that he would attempt to cross the Palk Strait last year itself, but his plan got delayed due to dearth of sponsors.
The swimmer had created a sensation in 1997 by crossing the English Channel before successfully traversing the Strait of Gibraltar in 2001.
