Draft:Mandar Divase

Mandar Anandrao Divase (मंदार दिवसे) ( born 31 December 1985, Kolhapur ) is an Indian international swimmer, veteran in long distance freestyle swimming and open water marathon swimming. Former national record holder in 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle & 1500m freestyle. He has created history of being first ever Indian swimmer by breaking 16 minutes barrier in 1500m freestyle by clocking 15 minutes 56.5 secs & 4 mins barrier in 400m freestyle by clocking 3 minutes 59.59 secs at the 8th Asian swimming Championships 2009 Foshan, China.

He is honoured with the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Award in 2014 by the Maharashtra government & 'Kolhapur Bhushan Award' in the year 2004 ( Youngest achiever, 18 years old ).

He has represented India at the FINA world championships in the year 2009 ( swimming category), 2011, 2013 & 2015 ( open water swimming category).

In the year 2010 Mandar has represented India at the 19th commonwealth games held at Delhi. The same year he represented India at the 16th Asian games Held at Gounzau, China.

Personal life
Mandar Divase hails from Kolhapur, Maharashtra. He learned swimming at Bhavani Swimming pool, Pirajirao Ghatage trust, Kolhapur. Later he moved to Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre, Bangalore and coached by National Swimming Coach, S Pradeep Kumar. He completed his graduation from New college ( Shivaji University ), Kolhapur, Maharashtra. He is working in the 'Border Security Force' as an Inspector.

Career
Mandar Divase is a former National Record holder ( Senior, Men ) in 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle & 1500m freestyle. He made his debut in swimming by winning 2 bronze medals at the national school games- 1998, Nasik Maharashtra. He won best swimmer award at the school games 2001 held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat in under 19 years boys category. The following year ( 2002) he broke National Record ( senior, Men) in the 800m freestyle and 1500m freestyle. At the age of 16, He was the youngest to hold the National title at senior ( men) level.

He has represented India at the FINA world championships in the year 2009 ( swimming category), 2011, 2013 & 2015 ( open water swimming category).

Mandar has represented India at the 19th commonwealth games held at Delhi in 400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relay events. He has represented India at the 16th Asian games Held at Gounzau, China in 400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle ( finalist) and 4x200m freestyle relay events.

He won 2 Gold medals at 9th South Asian Games -2004 held at Islamabad, Pakistan and broke a games record in 1500m freestyle. Again he won a gold medal and broke games record at 10th South Asian Games -2006 held at Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1500m freestyle. He won silver medal at 11th South Asian Games -2010 held at Dhaka, Bangladesh.

He won Silver medal at 1st Afro- Asian Games-2003 held at Haydrabad, India in the event of 1500m freestyle.

2 bronze medals at 2nd Asian age group swimming championships-2002 held at Zhuhai, China.

6 times he has represented the Indian Police Team at the World Police and Fire Games and won several medals.

Statistics
A few of his best timings are 400m freestyle : 3 minutes, 59.59 secs at 8th Asian swimming Championships 2009 Foshan, China, November 2009.

800m freestyle : 8 minutes, 23.08 secs at 63rd Senior National Aquatic Championships- 2009, Trivendrum, Kerala, October 2009

1500m freestyle : 15 minutes, 56.95 secs at 8th Asian swimming Championships 2009 Foshan, China, November 2009.