46 KM IN 9 HRS: TEEN SETS NEW SWIMMING RECORD

MUMBAI: Gaurvi Singhvi, a swimmer who hails from Udaipur in Rajasthan, on Tuesday covered the distance between Juhu Beach, which lies along the west coast of Mumbai, to Gateway of India, which lies on the southern tip of the metropolis, thus creating a national record. She is the first Indian to swim 46 km, which she cleared in 9:22 hours.

Swimming Federation of India has acknowledged her feat and will reward her with the certificate.

Gaurvi jumped into the waters near Khar-Danda around 3.30 a.m. and completed the tiring swim to Gateway of India around 12.40 pm.

“The swim was smooth and uneventful though tiring, but she made it successfully after battling the deep water currents,” said a family member as Gaurvi, shivering a little, stepped out of the chilly sea waters.

This was the first and longest open sea swimming challenge attempted by any Indian swimmer and now, she has set targets on swimming the English Channel in the near future besides other major swimming challenges globally.

A Class 9 student of Delhi Public School, Udaipur, Gaurvi had begun her preparations for this challenge over two months ago by rigorous 25 kms swimming training in the Fatehsagar Lake in her home town guided by her coach Mahesh Paliwal.Gaurvi has been a state champion over last few years before she took to high sea swimming. Gaurvi started in the wee hours of Tuesday and her journey was monitored by the escort boats travelling at a safe distance from her as she made her way towards her target.

“The feeling is indescribable. We are all very proud of her. My daughter has been putting lots of efforts to push her limits,” said Shubh Singhvi, Gaurvi's mother.

She added that Gaurvi began preparing for the feat months back with her coach.

“Gaurvi wishes to, after she completes 16 years of age, win the English channel swimming competition,” Shubh added. Earlier, in March 2017, she had apparently covered a distance of 36 km from the Bandra-Worli Sea Link to Gateway of India.