Kayakist Khade and fiancee seek entry in record book

Delhi IITian Kaustubh Khade, a competitive kayak exponent, and his fiancee and professional cyclist Shanjali Shahi have covered the entire West Coast of India in a joint expedition lasting 83 days and are now seeking an entry into the Limca Book of Records.
Khade covered the distance between Kutch and Kanyakumari on the west coast in a kayak braving the tides of the Arabian Sea, while his fiancee rode her way to the southernmost tip of mainland India on a bicycle by road as the duo completed the 3,300-km distance 17 days ahead of what they had planned originally.
"We took permission from the Coast Guard and it eased our journey especially on the Gujarat coast where I was stopped four times to prove my credentials. I also got caught in an eddy near Diu and took the help of a local fishing boat to make my way out," said Khade, at a media conference today.

Khade, a former medalist in the Asian Kayaking Championship who had bagged an entry into the record books by completing the sea journey between Mumbai and Goa in a kayak in 17 days two years ago, and his would-be-life-partner have sent details of their feat to the publishers of the Limca Book of Records.
Shanjali, while praising people right through the duo's journey for helping them, said she encountered some problems in Mahe, which is part of Pondicherry but situated geographically within Kerala, when a drunk biker chased her.
"I also passed through Kannur just after a political murder had taken place," she added.

"The local police, governments and municipal authorities were absolutely fantastic. This journey would not have been completed if it wasn't for their unwavering support," said Khade.
The duo has now set their eyes on conquering the east coast of the country in a similar manner, with Khade saying he got inspiration from foreign kayakists who had done similar feats in their own countries.