India will field its first official freediving team at the World Apnea Pool Championship to be held in Budapest, Hungary

India will field its first official freediving team at the World Apnea Pool Championship to be held in Budapest, Hungary

¨     India will field its first official freediving team at the World Apnea Pool Championship to be held in Budapest, Hungary.

¨     The Indian team includes Archana Thyagarajan, Akshay Thatte, and Vachan H U.

¨     Freediving is an underwater sport in which athletes hold their breath while performing underwater activities.

¨     The sport includes both pool and depth events.

¨     The World Apnea Pool Championship is an international competitive freediving event.

¨     The championship is organized under AIDA International.

¨     Archana Thyagarajan became the first Indian to compete at an AIDA World Championship.

¨     She participated in the 34th AIDA Freediving World Championship held in Wakayama from 28 June to 2 July 2025.

¨     Archana set four new national records in pool events during the championship.

¨     Archana Thyagarajan is an 11-time national record holder.

¨     In August 2025, she became the first Indian woman to cross the 40-metre mark in competitive freediving.

¨     Akshay Thatte is India’s first freediving instructor.

¨     He is also a four-time national record holder.

¨     Vachan H U, also known as Vachan Gowda, is a lawyer by profession.

¨     Vachan H U is also a national record holder in freediving.