Irakulam Pond The Birthplace of Kerala’s International Swimming Champions

Irakulam, a tranquil village pond in Kavassery, Palakkad, has a remarkable legacy as a cradle of swimming champions who have made a mark on the international stage. Established in 1976, this pond became a pioneering training ground for swimmers under the initiative of K Narayanan, a former district sports council secretary. With the support of local pond owners and coaches like the late V Valsakumar, Irakulam transformed into a vibrant aquatic hub producing national and international medalists.

Among its most recent stars are Amritesh Unnikrishnan and Sujith Sahadevan, who trained at Irakulam and recently won a total of five gold, three silver, and one bronze medal at the Police and Fire Games held in Birmingham, USA. Their success continues the tradition of excellence that began with the first batch of swimmers in the late 1970s, including medalists like A Lalitha, who won the prestigious G V Raja sports award in 1979.

Many swimmers trained at Irakulam have become coaches, joined the Indian Navy and Army, or secured government jobs through sports quotas. After a brief pause, the pond’s training program has resumed following renovations, with instructors A Mohandas and R Kannan guiding a new generation of swimmers.

Irakulam’s journey shows how a small rural pond, with strong community support and dedicated coaching, can produce talent that shines on the global stage. It highlights the power of grassroots sports development in Kerala and the enduring spirit of its athletes.

Read more at: https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2025/07/13/irakulam-kerala-swimming-champions.html