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23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Olympic Speed Climbing Champion Sam Watson to Visit Mumbai

Mumbai: When Sam Watson sprints up a 15-metre wall, the world seems to slow down. The 19-year-old American speed climber, an Olympic medallist from Paris 2024 and current world-record holder at 4.64 seconds, has become the face of one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. On November 2, he will trade competition arenas for Mumbai’s High Rock in Powai, offering a rare day of workshops and conversations with India’s burgeoning community of climbers. Speed climbing, once a fringe pursuit of...

Olympic Speed Climbing Champion Sam Watson to Visit Mumbai

Mumbai: When Sam Watson sprints up a 15-metre wall, the world seems to slow down. The 19-year-old American speed climber, an Olympic medallist from Paris 2024 and current world-record holder at 4.64 seconds, has become the face of one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. On November 2, he will trade competition arenas for Mumbai’s High Rock in Powai, offering a rare day of workshops and conversations with India’s burgeoning community of climbers. Speed climbing, once a fringe pursuit of mountaineers, now stands as one of the Olympics’ most electrifying disciplines. The sport demands not just power and agility but precision measured in hundredths of a second. Watson, often hailed as the greatest speed climber of all time, has repeatedly rewritten the record books. His visit marks a milestone for India’s fledgling climbing scene. High Rock, the city’s first commercial climbing facility, opened its walls in December 2024 and has since drawn more than 10,000 enthusiasts. It represents the country’s growing fascination with vertical sports and a reflection of a global shift toward adventure and athleticism fused with technology and training science. During his visit, Sam Watson will conduct Masterclasses for both Kids and Adults, offering a rare opportunity for amateur climbers to learn directly from a global champion and experience his unmatched energy and technique up close. Watson will be joined by Matt Groom, the Official Lead Commentator for the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC). Known as the voice of IFSC World Cups and World Championships, Groom will host a 30-minute talk at High Rock on ‘The Evolution of Climbing in Competitive Sport.’ His insights promise to provide a deep look into the transformation of climbing from niche adventure to Olympic spectacle. Event: Sam Watson, Olympic Medalist and current World Record holder at High Rock Date: November 2, 2025 Location: High Rock, Powai, Mumbai

Five-week ‘Bandra Station Mahotsav’ opens June 20

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Mumbai: In a first ever initiative, the Western Railway (WR) will kickstart a dedicated ‘Bandra Station Mahotsav’ with a series of lively events scheduled over five-weeks to mark the key halt’s 160th anniversary, from June 20-July 27, officials said.

 

The grand celebration is intended to highlight the Bandra station’s rich heritage, glorious history, its transformation over 16 decades and its emotional public connect, said WR’s Chief Spokesperson Vineet Abhishek.

 

“After the formal inauguration on Friday, a wide range of events have been planned for June-July to involve commuters, art lovers, historians and the general public to commemorate this remarkable milestone,” Abhishek told The Perfect Voice.

 

The India Posts will hail Bandra Station by releasing a special postal stamp along with WR’s vibrant cultural programs showcasing local artists and talents, not only from Bandra, oft referred to as the ‘Queen of Suburbs’, but all Mumbaikars, he said.

 

Some of the highlights include thematic, multiple arts/crafts competitions, Vlog making, Make a Badge of Bandra Station, ‘Purani Yaadein’ featuring memories of people of the landmark station and its legacy, including scenes in Bollywood films.

 

“The Vlog Making Competition has called upon participants to express their vision of the Bandra Station’s glory and its metamorphosis in the past 160-years through short videos,” Abhishek explained.

 

‘Purani Yaadein’ (old memories) has invited the people and celebs to share their nostalgic memoirs, photos, audios-videos on their personal links with Bandra Station.

 

On July 5-6, a special sound-and-light show and a photo-expo will be held at the Bandra Station depicting its journey over time, and its contribution to the evolution and development of Mumbai.

 

Abhishek said that interviews of eminent personalities from Bandra and railway aficionados shall be conducted and hosted over multiple media, capturing their insights and memorable experiences associated with Bandra Station.

 

The WR appealed to all citizens to actively engage in the Bandra Station Mahotsav, use hashtags on social media, participate in the multitude of competitions and initiatives which would be evaluated by panels of eminent judges with attractive prizes in store for the winners, assured Abhishek.

 

Bandra Station – Gateway of Queen of Suburbs

Ranked among the finest suburban stations with an old-world charm, Bandra Station – once known as ‘Bandora’ - has a distinctive 19th Century blend of Victorian Gothic and Vernacular architectural form with its cascade of roofline, making it a landmark from the era of Bombay, Baroda & Central India Railway (BB&CIR), the front-runner to the modern WR and CR.

 

The other eye-catchers are its baroque cast-iron pillars now a rarity but exemplifying the harmony between the past and present. For the festival, the entire Bandra Station has undergone a facelift to exude a swank, colourful and welcome ambience.

 

In the early decades, it had only two platforms and over years, more were added, now it’s part of the Bandra Kurla Terminus, and helped the growth of the swank dusty suburb into a modern, glittering one, teeming with Bollywood,  business and other celebs, as a living testament to the city’s colonial past, architectural grandeur and community spirit.

 

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