Madhya Pradesh’s star para swimmer Satendra Singh swam across Catalina channel leading five other para swimmers.

Satendra, who has already crossed English Channel in the past, has become the first Asian swimmer to have crossed both English and Catalina channel successfully. The Gwalior born is the first para swimmer to have crossed Catalina channel.

The Indian contingent took to freezing waters of Catalina Channel on Monday night and crossed it this morning clocking 11 hours 34-minute timing.

The temperature of water at this 36 km long water body was 13 degree Celsius.

In a video message sent back home, Singh expressed happiness over this feat saying disability isn’t a physician state but state of mind and we are swimming to end this mentality.

“Despite chilly water, I managed to cross the channel with my associates this morning,” said the swimmer, adding, “We had started at 10.57pm and finished at 10.30am.”

Satendra thanked everyone for support and backing. Our bodies might be weak but our spirits are always high which helped us get through this challenge, said Satendra adding he hopes this feat would also inspire others.

Satendra in the attempt was accompanied by Rimo Shah of West Bengal, Anjani Patel of Chhattisgarh, Chetan Raut and Gitanjali Chaudhary of Mharashtra and Jagdish Teli of Rajasthan.

In March this year, Satndra has crossed English Channel clocking a timing of 12 hours 26 minutes and also entered Limca Book of Records with his effort.

Despite 75% disability, Satendra in the past had swam across Arabian sea covering 36 km has many awards in his kitty including Vikram award which was conferred on him by MP government in 2014.

Besides 19 medals in domestic swimming events, Singh won a gold in the Men’s Open 50m backstroke at the NSW 2017 state open championship in Sydney.