When tourists and travellers embark on their adventures, they often seek out new experiences and explore unfamiliar environments. Unfortunately, open water accidents and drowning incidents can occur, posing a significant risk to their safety.  Lack of swimming skills, underestimating water conditions, lack of awareness about local safety measures, and unfamiliarity with the water environment are mainly responsible for the accidents. It is crucial for tourists and travellers, especially those going into the ocean, river, or any open water bodies, to be aware of the potential dangers and take necessary precautions to prevent drowning.  Open Water Safety Tips for Tourists  Learn Swimming Skills  It is highly recommended to have basic swimming skills before going into open water. Travellers need to take swimming lessons to improve their abilities and build confidence. Knowing how to float, tread water, and swim basic strokes can significantly enhance your safety in the water. Stay within Your Comfort Zone  It's essential to assess one’s own swimming abilities and stay within one’s comfort zone. Avoid venturing into deep or fast-flowing water, if one is not confident.  It’s always safe not to attempt activities beyond your own skill level, such as diving in unfamiliar areas or swimming long distances without proper training. When the tourists attempt to swim in a new area, they should try to stick where they feel comfortable and safe, considering their swimming proficiency and experience. Read more: United efforts needed to prevent death in drowning: Ambassador Mustafizur Take Local Advice  Bangladesh is known for its vast network of rivers, and some areas have strong currents. It would be better to familiarise yourself with the water conditions and potential hazards in the specific location you plan to visit. Currents can be unpredictable, so it is important to understand their behaviour and take necessary precautions.  Travellers can seek advice from local authorities, experienced water sports professionals, or knowledgeable guides. The local people can provide valuable insights about the local water conditions, any specific precautions to take, and areas to avoid. Observe Warning Signs Experts suggest paying close attention to warning signs, flags, or instructions from local authorities regarding water conditions. These signs may indicate high tide, strong currents, dangerous areas, or any other potential hazards. Tourists should always follow these guidelines to ensure their own safety. Wear a Life Jacket  If you are not a strong swimmer or when participating in activities like boating, kayaking, or rafting, wearing a properly fitted life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) can enhance safety. Life jackets provide buoyancy and can save lives in the event of an accident or unexpected water conditions. Besides, it is necessary to ensure the life jacket is in good condition and properly fastened. Read more: Bangladesh leads WHO in adopting resolutions to reduce drowning mortality

Kushtisa District has emerged champions in Sultana Kamal Inter-District Age Group Women’s Swimming Competition. It secured seven gold, two silver and one bronze medals in the competition that concluded on Saturday at the Sultana Kamal Women’s Sports Complex in Dhanmondi here. Munshiganj District finished runners-up securing four gold, four silver and one bronze medal in the two-day meet, organised by Bangladesh Women’s Sports Federation (BWSF). Also read: Sultana Kamal Inter-District Age Group Women’s Swimming begins Friday Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Mesbahuddin was the chief guest at the day’s closing function and later he distributed prizes. General Secretary of Bangladesh Swimming Federation MB Saif was also present as special guest at the function, chaired by BWSF president and Whip of Jatiya Sangsad Mahbub Ara Gini MP. A total of 114 promising swimmers from 19 districts took part in three age group competitions: 8-10 years, 11-12 years and 13-14 years age groups. Also read: Bangabandhu National Swimming concludes with Navy reigning supreme

Bangladesh Krira Sikkha Protishtan (BKSP) clinched the top slot in the Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming and Diving Competition’2021, securing 48 gold, 53 silver and 42 bronze medals on the 3rd and final day of the meet at the concluded at Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Tuesday. Bangladesh Ansar followed the leader with 23 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze, Gopalganj Swimming Club finished distant 3rd collecting nine gold medals while Bogra Swimming Center became 4th with 5 gold, 7 silver and 3 bronzes. A total of 28 events were decided on the 3rd day and final day (Tuesday). Mukti Khatun of Bangladesh Ansar was adjudged the best female swimmer of the meet securing eleven gold and two silvers with three new national records, while Mohammad Islam of Gopalganj Swimming Club named as the best man swimmer securing nine gold also featuring three new national records. Secretary General of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) Syed Shahed Reza was the chief guest at the day’s closing function and distributed the prizes at a simple ceremony, chaired by general secretary of Bangladesh Swimming Federation MB Saif. Bangladesh Swimming Federation arranged the meet on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that featured eleven new nationals records over the three days.

The Bangladesh Krira Sikkha Protishtan (BKSP) claimed 34 gold medals till Monday to remain a runaway leader in the Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming and Diving Competition 2021. The BKSP secured 103 medals, including 37 silver and 32 bronze medals, up to the second day of the three-day meet at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur. READ: In swimming, it’s different strokes for different folks  Bangladesh Ansar remained in second place with 18 golds, eight silvers and four bronzes. The third-placed Bogura Swimming Centre collected three golds, four silvers and two bronzes.   Thirty-six events were completed today, featuring six new national records – five in swimming and one in diving. Five swimming events were boys' and girls' 200-metre breaststroke (18-20 year group), boys' 200-metre backstroke (18-20 year group), boys' 100-metre butterfly (18-20 year group), boys' 100-metre freestyle (18-20 year group) and one-metre springboard diving. READ: Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming begins on Sunday   Sunday, President of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF) and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal inaugurated the three-day meet at a simple ceremony, chaired by Tarafder M Ruhul Amin, the BSF vice-president and managing director of the meet's sponsor Saif Powertek.

American Caeleb Dressel finished off his gold rush at the Tokyo Olympics with two more dazzling races, and Australia’s Emma McKeon won seven medals, more than any other female swimmer in a single games. Now, when the greatest swimmers are mentioned, there are two new names on the list. Read: Tokyo Olympics 2020: Men's Football Quarter-Finals Preview Taking his place alongside Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi, Dressel captured his fourth and fifth gold medals of the pandemic-delayed games on the final day of swimming at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. With victories Sunday in the 50-meter freestyle and 4x100 medley relay, the 24-year-old Floridian joined a truly elite club of swimmers who won at least five gold medals at one games. Phelps did it three times, of course, highlighted by his record eight golds at the 2008 Beijing Games. There’s also Spitz (seven golds in 1972), East German Kristin Otto (six golds in 1988) and Biondi (five golds, also in ’88). Dressel starred at the pool with McKeon, who also won two more golds Sunday to push her overall total to seven — four gold and three bronze. She is the first female swimmer to win seven medals at a single games. The only men to do it are Phelps, Spitz and Biondi. “It still feels very surreal,” the 27-year-old from Brisbane said. “It’s going to take a little bit to sink in. I’m very proud of myself.” Mirroring Dressel’s final day, McKeon won the 50 free and took the butterfly leg on the Aussies’ winning 4x100 medley relay team on the women’s side. In the men’s medley — a race the men have never lost at the Olympics —the Americans were trailing two other teams when Dressel dived in for the fly. Just like that, he blew by Britain and Italy with a blistering leg of 49.03 seconds, more than a second faster that anyone else. Zach Apple made the lead stand up on the freestyle to give the Americans a world record of 3 minutes, 26.78 seconds -- eclipsing the mark of 3:27.28 they set at the 2009 Rome world championships in rubberized suits. Read: ‘OK not to be OK’: Mental health takes top role at Olympics Ryan Murphy and Michael Andrew joined Dressel and Apple on the winning team, ensuring the Americans remained unbeaten in the medley relay — the final swimming event at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. In the first event of the morning, Dressel won the 50 free for his third individual title of the games. Dressel cruised to a relatively easy win in the frenetic dash from one end of the pool to the other, touching first in the 50 free with an Olympic record of 21.07. When he saw his time and, more important, the “1” beside his name, he splashed the water and flexed his bulging arms. He also won gold in the 100 free, set a world record in the 100 butterfly and took part in the winning 4x100 free relay. A few minutes after Dressel climbed from the pool, McKeon completed her own freestyle sweep. She touched in 23.81 to add the 50 title to her victory in the 100. In the medley relay, McKeon entered truly rarified territory. She is only the second woman in any sport to win seven medals at an Olympics, joining Soviet gymnast Maria Gorokhovskaya, who claimed two golds and five silvers at the 1952 Helsinki Games. McKeon took the butterfly leg before Cate Campbell anchored the Aussies to a victory over the two-time defending champion Americans. “I don’t know how she does it. I’m exhausted,” said Kyle Chalmers, one of the McKeon’s teammates. “To win one gold medal or an Olympic medal, it’s very, very special. We’re lucky to have her on the team.” Read: Tokyo Olympics 2020: Turkmenistan Wins its First Olympic Medal In keeping with the theme of the day, Bobby Finke pulled off his own sweep in the two longest freestyle races. With another strong finishing kick, Finke became the first American man in 37 years to win the 1,500 freestyle. He added to his victory in the 800 free, a new men’s event at these games.

South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker was the star of the day, setting the first individual swimming world record at the Tokyo Olympics. Others shined, too. Evgeny Rylov completed a backstroke double for Russia, Emma McKeon gave the Aussie women another gold, and China earned a return trip to the top of the medal podium. The mighty Americans? For the first time in the meet, they spent the entire session Friday watching others win gold. Schoenmaker, a 24-year-old South African, won the women’s 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2 minutes, 18.95 seconds, breaking the mark of 2:19.11 set by Denmark’s Rikke Moller Pedersen at the 2013 world championships in Barcelona. It was the third world record at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, with the first two coming in women’s relays. “I wasn’t expecting that at all,” said Schoenmaker, who added to her silver in the 100 breast. ”It couldn’t have been a better race. It still just doesn’t sink in, maybe one day.” Rylov thoroughly snuffed out America’s dominance in the backstroke, adding the 200 title to his victory in the 100 back. Rylov won with an Olympic-record time of 1:53.29, while American Ryan Murphy wound up with the silver (1:54.15). Also read: ‘OK not to be OK’: Mental health takes top role at Olympics Murphy was a double-gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where he extended an American winning streak that began at the 1996 Atlanta Games. The U.S. won 12 straight men’s backstroke events over six Olympics, but that streak ended with Rylov’s victory in the 100. He made it 2-for-2 in the longer race, while Murphy settled for bronze and silver in the two events. Britain’s Luke Greenbank grabbed the 200 bronze in 1:54.72. McKeon touched first in the 100 freestyle with an Olympic-record time of 51.96, becoming only the second woman to break 52 seconds in the sprint. Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey earned the silver in 52.27, while another Aussie, Cate Campbell, took the bronze in 52.52. American Abbey Weitzeil was last in the eight-woman field. The Australians have won four individual women’s events at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, in addition to setting a world record in a 4x100 free relay that included both McKeon and Campbell. The team from Down Under has six golds overall, tied with the Americans, though the U.S. has the lead in the overall medal count. The Americans won three medals Friday, also claiming the other two spots on the podium behind Schoenmaker. But it was the first time the U.S. team went through an entire sessions of finals in Tokyo without winning at least one gold. Lilly King set a blistering pace early in the 200 breast and held on for a silver in 2:19.92, adding to her bronze in the 100 event. Annie Lazor nabbed the bronze in 2:20.84. “I don’t come from behind, that’s for sure, so I just wanted to put it out there and see where it goes,” King said. “I thought I did great.” A day after winning its first two golds at the pool, China picked up another victory when Wang Shun touched first in the men’s 200 individual medley. Wang edged Britain’s Duncan Scott with a time of 1:55.00. Scott took the silver in 1:55.28, while the bronze went to Switzerland’s Jeremy Desplanches in 1:56.17. Also read: Tokyo Olympics 2020: Turkmenistan Wins its First Olympic Medal It was another disappointment for hometown star Daiya Seto, who didn’t even qualify for the final of his first two events. He got through in the 200 IM, but just missed out on a medal with a fourth-place finish -- a mere five-hundredths of a second behind the Swiss bronze medalist. American Michael Andrew led after the third leg, powering to the top spot on the breaststroke. But he faded badly on the freestyle to wind up in fifth, more than 2 seconds behind the winner. “I think it hurt worse than it looked, and it looked pretty bad,” Andrew said. “I knew I had to be fast at the 150 and I was praying for some Holy Spirit power to get me home in that (final) 50, but it wasn’t all there.” But the U.S. has several good chances to claim gold over the last two days of the swimming competition. Caeleb Dressel has two individual finals remaining, and Katie Ledecky is a big favorite in the 800 free. Dressel set another Olympic record in the semifinals of the 100 butterfly. Minutes after Hungary’s Kristof Milak took down the mark in the first semifinal heat, Dressel went even faster with a time of 49.71 in the second heat. “I feel fine,” Dressel said. “I’m not worried about the schedule. I’ve had it written down for a couple weeks now. I know what’s coming. I know how to pace it correctly. I know how to take care of my body.” It was the third-fastest time in history and left Milak as the second-fastest qualifier at 50.31. In the preliminaries, Dressel tied the former Olympic record of 50.39 set by Singapore’s Joseph Schooling to win gold at the 2016 Rio Games. Dressel will be a big favorite in Saturday morning’s final, though he could get pushed by Milak. The Hungarian already won the 200 fly with a dominating victory.   Dressel picked up the first individual gold medal of his career with a win in the 100 freestyle.

Swimming not only soothes the soul but also helps in fat loss. However, finding a swimming pool, and learning how to swim may pose a challenge to many people. Learning how to exert effectively to burn the most calories is a regimen that many people get wrong. There is a myriad of swimming styles to choose from that vary the amount of calories burned. So here is how we can find out which swimming style is best for fat loss. Benefits of Swimming If you are having joint problems, swimming does wonders and can even be seen as a “low-intensity” workout, but being mindful of your limits is important. Every stroke burns at the very least an average amount of calories and is certainly still worth doing if the more intensive strokes are difficult to execute consistently. For example, doing ten laps of a less strenuous stroke will still burn more calories than ten laps with a harder stroke and the wrong technique. Swimming within your means is a must and being able to identify your strong stroke would be just what you need to get started. Why Swimming is different from running and cycling? Running, swimming and cycling are the holy trinities of traditional cardio; all three are renowned for skyrocketing one’s endurance when trained for a certain amount of time. While running and cycling are easily accessible and take very little time to prepare, swimming may present new challenges to some. It’s not difficult to see why this can be a daunting task. Not only can you not gauge your workout by how much you sweat, but you also have to choose the right style of swimming among diverse styles. Read Running vs. Swimming vs. Cycling: Which Is Best for Burning Fat? Why is it essential to choose the best swimming stroke? While cycling does require one to learn how to ride a bike, the skill floor is almost gone once this has been learned. There are ways of adjusting your cycling position to get the most out of your workout, but not nearly to the same degree as swimming. In the case of swimming, mastering the technique is critical before even trying to assess the best stroke for you. Unlike swimming, it’s difficult to run “wrong” or cycle wrong once you’ve properly learned how to do so. There are four main strokes that everyone will have to learn at some point if they choose to take swimming seriously enough to make it a staple in their everyday life. Swimming is unique in terms of the requirement of actually needing to learn how to perform the strokes, which may take more time than one, might expect. Focusing on pacing each breath, the motion of the body, and the amount of force exerted can make or break the quality of your strokes, which will eventually lead to unproductive swimming sessions that you may not have known about. To solve this, learning how to float, aligning the body to be parallel to the water floor, and balancing the amount of energy exerted from your upper and lower body are good ways to learn. Read Muscle Building Diet: Best Foods for Muscle Gains, Definition and Fat Reduction Advantages of Breaststroke If we are talking about purely boosting cardiovascular functions, Breaststroke is the optimal exercise. While still burning an average calorie count of 200 per half hour, the main highlight is its ability to stimulate blood circulation better than the other strokes. While the motion is rather different compared to the other arm-over-shoulder, it is because of this that this style has swimmers focus most of their attention on the core and staying afloat, while being the lowest impact out of the four. While the technique of coordinating your hands and legs to synchronize is slightly trickier than Freestyle, for example, this is the best pick for those who are not comfortable holding their breath. There are multiple ways of executing this technique, the first being known as the DPS style. IT’s a classic technique that uses traditional methods to optimise energy output in relation to distance. It does so by encouraging large, powerful movements from the swimmer that will have him or her glide across the water with every stroke, rather than expelling energy needlessly with a smaller range of motion. Read Barbells vs. Dumbbells: Which is better for Workout, Strength, and Muscle Growth? The Rapid Turnover style exchanges the distance covered within each stroke for the speed at which one retracts his or her arms after extending them during the stroke itself. It is highly technical but has been making waves in the professional swimming scene lately. Backstroke for fat loss Moving on to the more conventional styles on the list, backstroke burns approximately 250 calories per half hour and is the third-best style for burning fat - but is by no means bad. Lying on your back while moving poses quite the challenge for newcomers, but after getting the hang of things, you can expect to start seeing more defined legs, arms and shoulders. It does wonders for the hips and can even lengthen the spine if done regularly enough. Ultimately it strikes a good balance between burning a respectable amount of calories, improving posture, and defining many major muscle groups. However, if you are looking for speed and efficiency, there are better strokes to choose from. Read Effectiveness of Compound Exercises for Muscle Definition Freestyle for Muscle Building Arguably the most basic and most common of the styles, freestyle is normally the standard one many gravitate towards when they learn how to swim. As an added bonus, it is also the style that burns 300 calories every half an hour, the second-best of the four! Freestyle also has the best reputation for toning muscles such as the back, shoulders, core, and glutes. It is the easiest style to get into and serves as a good starting point before branching out to other strokes. If you are afraid of seeing the definition of your body or wish to test yourself on a technical basis, there are others that would suit you more. Butterfly for improving Cardiac health By far the hardest stroke among the four, but also the most effective as it can burn a whopping 450 calories in half an hour. The stroke requires a lot of emphasis on precision when your legs are tucked together and moving in a “wave” like rhythm with the upper part of your body. Both arms need to be extended together and your head must be in sync with each repetition to get proper breathing. It’s quite a lot to manage, but can be the best with enough time and practice. Best to start slow with this style while getting your cardio fix with freestyle or breaststroke first. Read Best Swimming Games for Android/IOS

The trinity of cycling, running and swimming is one that represents one of the purest ways of fitness throughout history. Triathlons are often celebrated as events that can appreciate the endurance and will of each contestant that are dedicated enough to attend. Many people may argue placing these three sports against each other, wondering which one is the most effective for losing weight, building stamina and is overall worth the commitment. Today, we will be determining which of the three (running, cycling, and swimming) is best for burning fat and improving daily living. How to Burn Fat by Running Let’s start with running: the best sport out of the three that requires the least amount of spending and preparation type. Running is by far the most approachable for those newer to exercising. It can be done outdoors and indoors, it can be done with friends and it can be done without any setup. Many people may find running to be the simplest of the three exercises, but does its job by providing massive amounts of fat loss and even helps with leaning out your muscles. Despite being the most popular out of the three, surveys have indicated that running loses out to strength training and walking in terms of long-term fitness habits people tend to commit to. Read Effectiveness of Compound Exercises for Muscle Definition In terms of its capacity to burn fat, it solely depends on your distances against the speed at which you are running. A light 10-minute job will probably not do the trick for you, but passing the 45-minute threshold will be when your body starts tapping into its fat reserves to burn as you begin to metabolise. Running is a constant exercise that needs to be done and is the prime representation of fitness and endurance. It is a common exercise for a good reason and is incredibly dependable when you’re short of time or need to commit to a weight-loss programme for that summer body in the near future. Naturally, dieting takes priority, but committing beyond half an hour at a steady pace during each run will make a world of difference to your body. Read Intermittent Fasting: Health Benefits and Risks How to Lose Weight by Cycling or Bike Riding Unlike running, cycling is seen more as a hobby than a fitness routine to many. Off-road and on-road biking can have either united or separated communities and the range of bicycles is in abundance. Ever since the pandemic surfaced, many more are riding due to the sheer convenience a bicycle can offer, even without being part of the cycling community. Although it leans towards being specialised, the passion for riding comes from its versatility as a sport, the plethora of equipment, and the skills required to master riding. Read Bicycle Price in Bangladesh with Buyers' Guide Hand-eye coordination is key to knowing how to ride a bicycle, and knowing how to handle your vehicle on different terrain, and in different climate conditions does help riders to cultivate skills that transcend a mere cardio workout plan. In terms of accessing this sport as a viable fat-burning activity, cycling can be a mix of low impact and high impact, which is phenomenal for those who suffer from stressed joints. As cycling burns fewer calories than running at the same distance, you’ll have to cycle further to get the same amount of calories burnt. Which means that you’ll have to take out a larger portion of your time to burn the number of calories of your choosing? This doesn’t necessarily mean that cycling is worse than running, but you will require going the distance to get the same results. With resistance in the pedals and terrain to consider, there are variables that prove to be exceptions. Read Cycling Benefits: How Indoor and Outdoor Cycling Strengthens Your Immune System How to Maximize Fat Burning while Swimming? Unlike running and cycling, swimming is a full-body workout that does a lot more for the body than just burning fat. The natural resistance of water allows each stroke to give the body some sort of muscle training. With your core holding you in place, it is your legs and arms that will be doing all the moving, making this exercise possibly the most well-balanced out of the three, but does it burn fat just as effectively? Swimming has multiple strokes and some of them are low intensity that does not put mobility as a priority; while other strokes are far more intense and will require proper breathing, detailed movement, and practice in order to get the hang of it. Read Barbells vs. Dumbbells: Which is better for Workout, Strength, and Muscle Growth? Like cycling, swimming can be both low intensity and high intensity, but you will want to stick to the latter for proper fat loss. Fast lap-free strokes and breaststrokes are the best for burning fat, documented to burn 590 calories per hour if under 60kg. One factor that could deter many from committing to swimming as a hobby is having access to a proper swimming pool for this kind of training. Apartments and some single houses are completely out of the question, and condominiums may not have the right kind of Swimming pool for training. Weather also plays a big part: unlike the other two exercises, swimming is unrealistic (outdoors) if it’s too hot or cold outside. Granted, there are indoor complexes, but they aren’t necessarily common. If these drawbacks are not a determent, picking up this hobby will get you far. Read Muscle Building Diet: Best Foods for Muscle Gains, Definition and Fat Reduction Cycling vs. Running vs. Swimming: Which One Is the Best for Weight Loss? Before coming to a conclusion, it is important to distinguish the terms that fall under the “best” when assessing the criteria. If we are talking about versatility, running loses to both cycling and swimming due to how versatile the other two are. Swimming gives you a full-body workout, natural resistance, better breathing skills and can be done to relax too. Cycling is also versatile; being a solid solution for those with joint problems, effective at burning calories, and requires very little equipment. However, if you are considering the “best” to be one that can burn the most amount of calories under a specific time - running and swimming beat cycling. Read What Does Yoga Do For Weight Loss? Cycling naturally requires more distance to get the same kind of impact as a run under half an hour for example. The rules for this may not apply to swimming as variables like strokes and pool sizes can change up the ability to determine how many calories burnt at that point in time. Overall, running is the safest choice for reliable fat burning, if you are tight for time, but all three require hard work and dedication to see proper results.

A 27-member Bangladesh swimming team including 22 swimmers and five officials left Dhaka for Nepal on Sunday to take part in the 13th South Asian Games (formerly the SAF Games), that will be held from December 1-10 in Kathmandu and Pokhran.

Dhaka, Sept 12 (UNB) – Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) emerged champions in three-day Saif Powertek 33rd National Age Group Swimming and Diving Competition that concluded at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Thursday.