Smooth swimming

Making a splash with five golds at the City Inter School Aquatic Meet in December 2005 was 12-year-old Hormuz Baliwalla who won in the 100 m freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke and 200 m individual medley. Over 200 swimmers from 40 schools in Bombay city participated in the two-day inaugural event organized by the Campion School Parent Teacher Association at the P. J. Hindu Bath. The promising Cathedralite was adjudged the individual champion in the boys under-12 category.

By virtue of his two silvers and a bronze at the Bombay District swim meet earlier in 2005, Baliwalla was selected to represent Bombay at the Maharashtra state meet at Kalwa where he won a gold as part of the swimming squad in the 4 x 50 freestyle relay for boys under-12. Pocketing two silvers and a bronze too at the DSO (District Sports Office) Inter school swimming competition, Baliwalla was selected to represent Bombay for the state meet at Parbhani where he succeeded in qualifying for the finals in 50 m and 100 m in freestyle in the boys under-14, states his bio data.

Hormuz Baliwalla

At the FOZAWAC (Federation of Zoroastrian Associations for Welfare and Culture) All Parsees swim meet in December 2005, Baliwalla was the individual champion in the boys under-14 with two golds and a silver, picking up two bronze medals in the men’s open category as well. Well-known opticians Baliwalla and Homi Private Limited co-sponsored the meet with the Aloo Dalal Memorial Trust.

With sea swimming a completely different cup of water, the spunky lad took part in the 50th Sunk Rock to Gateway of India Sea Swim in Bombay in February last year, completing the five kilometer course well within the merit timing of one hour stipulated by the Maharashtra State Amateur Aquatic Association.

Awarded the Muncherji Joshi Trust’s Young Achievers Award 2005 for excellence in sports last March, Baliwalla was among the youngsters honored with an outstanding achievement award at the Third Zoroastrian Children’s Day on December 25, 2005.