Watery burial

Former national champion Shampa Das dies off a cardiac arrest while swimming in a long-distance contest

MUMBAI: It had been five years since former national swimming champion Shampa Das had swum in a competitive event, something that had been her forte through the career. And when she did on Monday, little did she know that fate had scripted an unfair end to her illustrious career and life.

The 26-year-old Shampa, who had lured the best swimmer’s title 18 times in the past, fell prey to a massive cardiac arrest while participating in the 10km Long Distance Invitational Swimming Championship in the Hooghly River. She had however cleared the fitness test that had been conducted just before taking the plunge.

“This year, Shampa was adamant about winning the 10km race. She wanted to make a comeback into the sport,” said Biswajit Ghosh, who had coached Shampa from 1987 to 2002. “She was placed fifth in the competition when she collapsed at the 9km mark,” Ghosh added.

Ghosh recalled her light-heartedness in approaching everything she faced. “Whenever she would enter a room, she would lighten everyone’s moods, no matter what the situation,” he said.

Shampa’s mother, Shikha, however is battling trauma, having lost her only child. About three years ago, both Shampa and her mother had gone through tough times when Shampa’s father passed away.

After that, Shampa took her father’s job at Eastern Railways and became the family’s sole earning member. Though Shampa discontinued swimming, she assisted in coaching.
It was only three months ago that Shampa put an end to her hiatus and began training for the 10km race on the Hooghly. “She had shown a lot of improvement in three months,” Ghosh said.