Swimmers participating in the annual river-crossing competition organised by the Aqua Devils Association in Krishna river at Vijayawada on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: G.N. RAO
Swimming is not just a sport, but also an essential life skill that everyone should learn and make it a part of their daily routine, said Director General of State Disaster Response and Fire Services P. Venkata Ramana.
He was the chief guest at the 26th Krishna River Cross Swimming Competition, organised by the Aqua Devils Welfare Association (ADWA), in Vijayawada on Sunday. Speaking at the event, Mr. Venkata Ramana called upon the youth to actively take up sports, noting that such initiatives play a crucial role in building a healthy society.
The other chief guest of the event was former IAS officer Prabhakar Reddy, who emphasised the importance of swimming in maintaining a healthy life and also appreciated the association for organising the competitions every year.
The guests urged the youngsters to make sports a part of their routine, highlighting the importance of physical activity in the digital age.
A large number of participants, their families and sports enthusiasts began converging on the banks of the Krishna river in the city from the early morning hours on Sunday.
The events were conducted smoothly under strict safety measures and supervision of the rescue teams, said the press release from the association. Mr. Venkata Ramana and Mr. Prabhakar Reddy presented trophies and medals to the winners.
Published – February 08, 2026 10:44 pm IST
