Different strokes

He has swung into a seamless transition from swimming to golf! "I’m pursuing a whole new sport – golf and it’s got me as driven as I was about swimming! My coach is one of the best in the world and is based in Dubai at the Butch Harmon School of Golf. I try to see him four to six times a year,” says swimming star Rehan Poncha who represented India at the Beijing Olympics and other international events. "On any regular day though you’ll find me at the Poona Golf Course where I spend six hours a day practicing and two additional hours in the gym.”

Rehan Poncha: new interest in golf

Poncha relocated to Poona from Bangalore where he had lived and trained during his long years of competitive swimming. "I stopped swimming a year ago and I missed the competition and the rush I used to get from being in the pool. I’ve started offering two-day swim clinics, called ‘SwimSmart with Rehan Poncha,’ at pools all over the country. We work on technique, strokes, drills… and advise on race practice, diet, etc.” Inspiration and motivation is an important part of the transformation as young swimmers move from raw to reputed! "I’ve always felt I’d have benefitted tremendously during my career if I could have had a mentor who’d been there, done that! The swim clinics have that spirit,” says the 27-year-old. Mother Shirin and father Jehangir have also relocated to Poona. "I love Poona. We had a family home here that we never really lived in as Mum and Dad had moved to Bangalore from Bombay to encourage my swim training. They travelled with me through my swimming career and I’m glad they get to be back home as well! I love golf, am committed to turning professional and I’m working very hard to achieve my goals.”