Andhra policeman gets international swimming glory

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Hyderabad: A young police constable from Andhra Pradesh has grabbed glory in international sporting arena by winning three gold and a silver in swimming in the ongoing World Police Games in Belfast, Ireland.
24-year-old Tulsi Chaitanya, a head constable posted in Vijaywada police unit, could even become the fastest police swimmer in the world as he is also competing in 50m freestyle and 50 metre backstroke events.
India has sent a 34-member team, drawn from state police and central paramilitary forces, for the Games being held from August 1 to 11.
Son of a police head constable in Andhra Pradesh, Chaitanya made a promising start as a swimmer last year and he had finished on the podium in major police tournaments in the country.
In the ongoing World Police Games, he has till now won gold in 100m freestyle, 4x50m freestyle relay and 4x50m medley relay while he grabbed a silver medal in 100m backstroke. His remaining events are 50m freestyle and 50 metre backstroke.
"Chaitanya has shown his streak in the last one year. He is an excellent sportsman and he hails from a humble background. With four medals in the World Games in his kitty and with two more events to go, he may even become fastest police swimmer in the world (if he win 50m freestyle)," Rajiv Trivedi, Additional Director General of police (sports), told PTI.
Trivedi picked Chaitanya last year to represent Andhra Pradesh and put him under capable swimming trainers in Bangalore.
Chaitanya's feats brought him an out-of-turn promotion within a year after he was recruited as a constable in Andhra Pradesh police.
"Chaitanya, at 24 years of age now, has three more years of competitive swimming to go now. He is not only an asset to the state but for the country and all sportspersons," Trivedi, who is eagerly waiting to hug his protege upon his arrival from Belfast, said.