Kolkata: Conquerer of the seven seas, Bula Chowdhury today expressed her happiness at winning the Padma Shri award saying "it is worth more than crores of rupees".
"I am happy that my sacrifice, devotion and struggle have borne fruit. It is a great feeling to win the Padma Shri award," the ace long-distance swimmer told PTI here. Chowdhury, who was the national swimming champion for 10 years and specialised in 100m and 200m butterfly events, has crossed eight channels all over the world since switching over to long distance swimming.
Chowdhury, with the looks of a girl-next-door, was also the first Asian woman to cross the English Channel twice -- in 1989 and 1999. She also crossed the Strait of Gibraltar in Spain, Catalina Channel in the USA, Cook Strait in New Zealand, Robben Island in South Africa and the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka among others, covering five continents. The swimmer has earlier won Arjuna award in 1990 and the Tenzing Norgay Adeventure Sports Award for lifetime achievement in 2002.
Kolkata: Conquerer of the seven seas, Bula Chowdhury today expressed her happiness at winning the Padma Shri award saying "it is worth more than crores of rupees". 
