M’luru: Third edition of ‘Den Den’ sea swimming competition returns to Tannirbhavi on Jan 26
Schedule, other details here
Mangaluru: The Third edition of the ‘Den Den’ international sea swimming competition will be held at the blue-flag Tannirbhavi beach on January 26.
After two successful editions, Den Den Swim has quickly emerged as a marquee endurance event on India’s west coast, drawing national-level athletes and a growing contingent of international swimmers, and placing Mangaluru firmly on the global open-water swimming map.
This year, Den Den Swim 2026 features race categories of 500m (open swim), 2km, 4km, 6km and 8km, welcoming both competitive endurance swimmers and passionate amateurs seeking the thrill of swimming in the open sea.
The championship has seen strong year-on-year growth.
Organisers shared that around 200 swimmers participated in the second edition, with nearly 400 competitors expected this year, alongside an increase in international participation.
The competition’s technical committee is headed by Olympian Gagan Ullalmath.
Given the open-sea format, Den Den Swim is designed with a strong emphasis on safety and sea awareness. The Indian Coast Guard has extended cooperation for security and safety measures, supported by trained lifeguards and on-ground protocols to ensure a safe race environment.
“Den Den Swim is not just a race, it’s a movement to build sea confidence, sea safety awareness and a stronger open-water swimming community. We’re excited to welcome swimmers from across India and overseas to Tannirbhavi,” said Karthik Narayan, Secretary, Mangalore Surf Club.
One of India’s pioneering coastal sports communities, Mangalore Surf Club is known for promoting surfing, open-water swimming and ocean safety. Den Den Swim is the club’s flagship sea swimming championship, now in its third edition.
Here are the event details:
- Date: January 26, 2026 (flag-off at 6.30 am)
- Venue: Mangalore Surf Club, Tannirbhavi Beach, Mangaluru
- Race categories: 500 m, 2 km, 4 km, 6 km, 8 km
The Mangalore Surf Club has announced Mukund Realty as the title sponsor for Den Den Swim 2026. Mukund Realty is a leading real estate brand in Mangaluru.
“We’re proud to support Den Den Swim as title sponsor because it represents the future of Mangaluru, healthy, active, aspirational and globally visible. Events like this don’t just build sport; they build a city’s identity and confidence. We want Mangaluru to be recognised globally as a destination for world-class experiences,” said Gurudatta Shenoy, Managing Partner, Mukund Realty.
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Environment ministry endorses names of 10-member expert committee set up to define Aravalli hills
New Delhi (PTI): The Union Environment Ministry has told the Supreme Court that it has no objection with the Central Empowered Committee's proposed 10-member high-powered expert committee which has been tasked to come up with a uniform definition for the Aravalli hills and ranges.
In an affidavit filed before the top court, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has endorsed the names suggested for the high-powered expert committee comprising in-service and retired bureaucrats associated with the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Survey of India, along with academicians.
"The MoEFCC respectfully submits that it has no objection if this court as the aforesaid suggested names for the constitution of the proposed High Powered Committee. It is further submitted that the Ministry does not have any additional names to propose at this stage for inclusion in the said committee," the affidavit said.
The committee is proposed to be headed by Kanchan Devi, the current director general of the Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education.
The MoEF, in its affidavit, said the aspects relating to the Aravalli Hills and Ranges require a comprehensive and analytical examination, including stakeholder consultation, by a group of domain experts in the relevant fields.
The CEC in its report to the apex court said Devi, a 1991 Indian Forest Service officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has over three decades of experience in forestry education and research, wildlife and forest policy, and institutional leadership.
The other members include Subhash Ashutosh, former director general of FSI,
former GSI director Rajendra Kumar Sharma, climate and energy policy expert Tejal Kanitkar, senior academician and life sciences researcher Jaya Parkash Yadav, senior geographer and scholar Tejbir Singh Rana, former additional surveyor general of India SV Singh, former Gujarat principal chief conservator of forests CN Pandey, and former Nagaland PCCF Dharmendra Prakash.
The CEC also recommended names of RN Mishra, a noted author and Vijay Dhasmana, an ecological restoration practitioner and conservationist.
On February 26, the top court had asked the environment ministry and other stakeholders to suggest names of domain experts for the panel which would define the Aravalli hills and ranges, and observed that only lawful mining would be allowed in the region.
The top court, on December 29, took note of the outcry over the new definition of the Aravallis and kept in abeyance its November 20 directions that accepted a uniform definition of these hills and ranges. It had also stalled all mining activities.
It remarked that there was a need to resolve "critical ambiguities", including whether the criteria of 100-metre elevation and the 500-metre gap between hills would strip a significant portion of the range of environmental protection.
