Cabinet Secretariat Dominates Inter-Ministerial Swimming Competition
New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): The Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Pool Complex, popularly known as Tal Katora Swimming Pool, came alive with competitive fervour during the Inter-Ministerial Swimming Competition 2025-26 organised by the Central Civil Services Cultural & Sports Board (CCSCSB), Department of Personnel & Training. The Board is a central agency dedicated to promoting cultural and sports activities among Central Government employees across the country. The two-day event witnessed stellar performances across major categories, with over 14 different Ministries and Departments participating enthusiastically.
Dominating the team leaderboard, the Cabinet Secretariat bagged the overall title. In a closely contested event, the Ministry of Railways and Ministry of Finance jointly secured the runners-up position.
Chief Guest Shri K. Murugan, a 1990 batch UPSC officer of AIR, brought forth his medal-laden legacy—a former college middle-distance runner who won gold in the National Masters 800m, represented India in the Asian Masters at Kitakami and also qualified for the Boston Marathon. “Sports discipline is not limited to youth or the track—it is a flame that we must keep burning even beyond our offices and files,” Murugan told the gathering.
The men’s events saw strong competition, starting with Rudraksh Kumar of the Ministry of Finance winning the gold medal in the 50m freestyle with a timing of 0:26.62, while Virat Shokeen of the Rajya Sabha won the silver with a timing of 0:30.92 and Swarup Chakraborty of the Cabinet Secretariat won the bronze with a timing of 0:31.41. Harshit Narang of Ministry of Information & Broadcasting secured first position in 50m breaststroke with 0:39.64 seconds, Sahil Chopra of Ministry of Finance secured second position with 0:39.92 seconds and Cabinet Secretary Swarup secured third position with 0:45.36 seconds; Narang secured first position in 100m breaststroke with 1:31.14 seconds, Kamal Jeet of Railways secured silver with 1:46.24 seconds and Shubham of Ministry of Finance secured bronze with 2:22.19 seconds.
In the women's category, Baishali Kanaujia of Cabinet Secretariat performed brilliantly to win the gold medal in 50m freestyle with 1:00.62 seconds (Ranjita Shami of Ministry of Health won the silver with 1:13.85 seconds and Vanshika Gupta of Ministry of Defence won the bronze with 1:34.34 seconds) and gold medal in 100m freestyle with 1:21.99 seconds (Ranjita Shami came second with 1:25.66 seconds and Vanshika Gupta came third with 1:34.34 seconds).
The seamless swimming event was coordinated by Shri Brijesh Pant, Convener, All India Radio, whose meticulous planning ensured that not a single event was left out. At the prize distribution ceremony, his efforts were loudly applauded. He added, "It's about creating a platform where talent can shine without any hindrances. Watching these athletes push their limits reminds us that competition not only creates winners, but also builds a stronger community."