66th All India Railway Aquatic Championship 2026 begins in Kolkata
Synopsis
Kolkata is hosting the 66th All India Railway Aquatic Championship 2026-27 for the first time since 2022-23, with 192 athletes from 12 Railway zones competing in swimming, diving, and water polo at the Eastern Railway's Olympic-sized Gholeshapur complex through 3 October — underscoring Indian Railways' enduring role in producing Olympic-grade aquatic talent.
Key Takeaways
The 66th All India Railway Aquatic Championship 2026-27 began on 29 September 2026 in Kolkata , running until 3 October 2026 .
192 sportspersons from 12 teams representing Railway zones and units are competing in swimming, diving, and water polo .
General Manager Gitika Pandey of Eastern Railway inaugurated the championship at the Gholeshapur, Behala complex.
Kolkata is hosting the championship for the first time since 2022-23 .
The Eastern Railway Swimming Pool Complex features an Olympic-sized pool open to the general public after registration.
Indian Railways has produced Olympic-standard swimmers including Sajan Prakash — the first Indian to earn a direct Olympic 'A' qualification mark — and Asian Games medallist Sandeep Sejwal .
The 66th All India Railway Aquatic Championship 2026-27, organised by the Eastern Railway Sports Association (ERSA), got underway on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, at the Eastern Railway Swimming Pool Complex in Gholeshapur, Behala, Kolkata. The championship, running until 3 October 2026, features competitions across swimming, diving, and water polo, drawing 192 sportspersons from 12 teams spanning Railway zones and units across India.
Championship Inauguration and Key Officials
Gitika Pandey, General Manager of Eastern Railway, formally inaugurated the championship in the presence of senior officials and eminent sportspersons. Welcoming all participating teams and athletes, Pandey expressed satisfaction at Eastern Railway hosting the prestigious event once again — the last time Kolkata held the championship was in 2022-23. She also noted that the state-of-the-art swimming complex at Gholeshapur had been meticulously prepared with modern facilities to provide a high-quality sporting environment.
Pandey felicitated a distinguished group of sportspersons in recognition of their contributions and achievements, including L. Bombayla Devi, Sebastian Xavier, Soma Biswas, Saraswati Saha, Ali Qamar, Akbar Ali Mir, Aron D'Souza, Saurav Swarnakar, Rabin Boldey, Sanket Shinde, and Rashmi Sharma.
Participating Teams and Scale of the Event
The championship has brought together teams from Northern Railway, North Eastern Railway, North Central Railway, East Coast Railway, South Eastern Railway, South Western Railway, Western Railway, Central Railway, Southern Railway, and Eastern Railway, as well as units from Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) and the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO). Around 50 officials and technical personnel are on duty to ensure smooth conduct of the event.
The Gholeshapur Swimming Complex
The Eastern Railway Swimming Pool Complex at Behala is regarded as one of the finest aquatic facilities in Kolkata. It houses an Olympic-sized pool along with additional training infrastructure, maintained at a uniform depth of seven feet. Notably, the complex is not exclusive to Railways employees — members of the general public may also use it after due registration and payment of the prescribed fee, with expert trainers available on-site.
Railways' Legacy in Indian Aquatics
Indian Railways has a strong legacy of nurturing aquatic talent. Prominent swimmers supported by the Railways include Sandeep Sejwal, a medallist at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, and Sajan Prakash, the first Indian swimmer to achieve a direct Olympic 'A' qualification mark. Other notable Railway swimmers include Arunoday Banerjee, Supriya Mondal, Emil Rabinsingh, and Pawan Gupta.
ER Chief Public Relations Officer Shibram Majhi said aquatic sports 'hold a uniquely significant place in the world of sports as they test endurance, speed, power, precision and coordination,' adding that ERSA was committed to making the championship a memorable event for all participants. The meet concludes on 3 October 2026.
Point of View
Accessible beyond its own employees. What is less clear is whether the Railways' sports patronage is growing proportionally with India's rising Olympic ambitions, or whether it remains a legacy programme coasting on past champions like Sejwal and Prakash without a structured pipeline for the next generation.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 66th All India Railway Aquatic Championship 2026-27?
It is an annual national-level aquatic competition organised by the Eastern Railway Sports Association (ERSA), featuring swimmers, divers, and water polo players from Railway zones and units across India. The 66th edition is being held from 29 September to 3 October 2026 at the Eastern Railway Swimming Pool Complex in Gholeshapur, Behala, Kolkata.
How many teams and athletes are participating in the 2026 Railway Aquatic Championship?
A total of 192 sportspersons from 12 teams are competing. Participating units include Northern Railway, South Eastern Railway, Western Railway, Central Railway, Southern Railway, Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW), and the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), among others.
Where is the championship being held and what facilities does the venue offer?
The championship is being held at the Eastern Railway Swimming Pool Complex in Gholeshapur, Behala, Kolkata. The complex features an Olympic-sized pool with a uniform depth of seven feet, expert trainers, and modern training infrastructure, and is open to the general public after registration and fee payment.
When was the All India Railway Aquatic Championship last held in Kolkata?
The championship was last hosted in Kolkata during the 2022-23 edition. The 2026-27 edition marks Eastern Railway's return as host after a three-year gap.
Which prominent Indian swimmers have been supported by Indian Railways?
Indian Railways has backed several elite swimmers, most notably Sajan Prakash — the first Indian to achieve a direct Olympic 'A' qualification mark — and Sandeep Sejwal, a medallist at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Other Railway swimmers include Arunoday Banerjee, Supriya Mondal, Emil Rabinsingh, and Pawan Gupta.
