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Correspondent

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

Illegal structures demolished

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Ambernath: In a significant anti-encroachment operation, the Ambernath Municipal Council on Thursday demolished unauthorized commercial structures constructed on government-reserved land near the Lotus Lake area along the Kalyan-Badlapur road. The action included the demolition of 21 shops, 20 roadside stalls, and over 50 other illegal constructions erected on plots reserved for a public garden and a swimming pool.


The demolition drive, which began at 11 a.m. and continued until 2:30 p.m., was carried out under the orders of Municipal Chief Officer Umakant Gaikwad. The operation was conducted with heavy police security and saw participation from Senior Police Inspector Balaji Pandhare, town planning officials, electrical department officers, and over 50 municipal staff members including Encroachment Department Heads Narendra Sankhye and Sunil Gavit.


The action targeted Reservation Plot No. 45, designated for a garden, and Plot No. 88, earmarked for a swimming pool. Both plots had been illegally occupied and developed into commercial spaces over time, despite repeated complaints from residents. Authorities finally acted after mounting public pressure and official reports.


This is not the first such action in recent weeks. The Ambernath Municipal Council had earlier cleared unauthorized hawkers and stalls from areas near Saibaba Mandir to Vimco Naka and Forest Naka in West Ambernath. That operation saw the removal of 12 handcarts, 5 stalls, followed by further clearing of 10 handcarts and 9 more stalls.

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