Mihir Sen, often written as Mithir Sen in older texts, is associated with which sport for his famous long distance achievements?

Introduction / Context:
This question is about identifying the sport connected with a famous Indian figure, Mihir Sen, whose name may appear with small spelling variations such as Mithir Sen. He is remembered for remarkable endurance feats, and knowing which sport he represented is an important part of Indian sports history and general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The person in question is Mihir Sen, an Indian sportsperson known for long distance achievements.
• The name in the original question appears as Mithir Sen, which is likely a typographical variation of Mihir Sen.
• The options include hockey, swimming, volley ball, weightlifting, and athletics.
• Only one sport correctly matches Mihir Sen's achievements.

Concept / Approach:
Mihir Sen is celebrated as a long distance open water swimmer. He was the first Indian, and among the first Asians, to swim across the English Channel and other major sea stretches. His feats were widely reported and earned him national honours. Therefore, the correct sport associated with him is swimming, specifically long distance and channel swimming, not team sports like hockey or volleyball, nor strength sports like weightlifting.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that Mihir Sen is connected with endurance based achievements, which suggests long distance effort.Step 2: Recall that he gained fame for swimming long sea routes such as the English Channel.Step 3: Look at the options and identify swimming as the only sport that aligns with open water channel crossings.Step 4: Select swimming and discard other options that involve completely different skill sets.

Verification / Alternative check:

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• Hockey is India's traditional strength, but Mihir Sen is not counted among its famous players.
• Volley ball is a team sport that does not match the long distance, solo endurance achievements associated with Mihir Sen.
• Weightlifting focuses on strength and short explosive effort, which is different from the long duration endurance required for channel swimming.
• Athletics covers running, jumping, and throwing events, yet Mihir Sen is not known for track competitions.

Common Pitfalls:
Because the name may not be familiar to all candidates, some may attempt to guess based on the popularity of Indian sports and choose hockey by default. Others may misread Mihir as Mithali and think of a different athlete altogether. To avoid such errors, it is helpful to memorise key historical pioneers in each sport, such as Mihir Sen in long distance swimming, so that their names instantly trigger the correct association in your mind.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Swimming, as Mihir Sen is famous for his long distance open water swims, including crossing the English Channel and other major sea routes.