Sonal set to change lanes
SONAL Reddi has achieved a high level of local and international success for years in synchronised swimming, but she is now ready for a more traditional career.
The 17-year-old began competitive swimming at the age of 9 and quickly joined a team through the Cygnus Swimming Club in Durban North.
Sonal represented KwaZuluNatal at level 4 in 2014, 2015, 2016 and last year. Her international debut came in 2015 at the Commonwealth Festival of Synchronised Swimming in Perth, Australia.
The young athlete persevered and won silver in her team effort for the Free Combination Routine.
“I was so excited to go overseas, but I was also nervous. I prefer being in a team, though, because I feel more confident when it comes to competitive swimming,” she said.
The following year, she swam at the Junior World Championships in Kazan, Russia, and at the Heliopolis Championships in Cairo, Egypt.
Last year, noting it would be her last appearance abroad, she accepted the invitation to compete at the Senior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Sonal’s taste for success started at Northlands Girls’ High School, where she is currently completing Grade 12. In the past two years, she has received the senior school trophy, the Victrix Ludorum.
Although she has swum the Midmar Mile at least five times and faced off against global talents, she is now preparing for the academic challenge of a new career, as a chartered accountant.
She attributes her swimming to the influence and success of her siblings, who she says were just as athletic, but claims her love for accounting is all hers.
“Both my sisters, Stephanie, 31, and Tashnie, 25, did club swimming. Tashnie represented South Africa three times and mentored me, which helped me a lot.
“I am taking a break from synchronised swimming this year as I wanted to give all my time to my matric year,” said Sonal.
She added that her parents, Cliffy Reddi, 54, and Saras Reddi, 55, have been supportive of her swimming career and her academic ambitions.
“My mom wanted me to have an education and something other than swimming. I thought about my options, and my love for accounting won. It is something I really want to do next year.”
Her father, Cliffy, said how proud he was of all his children, and of Sonal’s achievements, especially following in her sister’s athletic footsteps.
“I am very proud of Sonal. She took to this sport because of Tashnie, and also because she really loves swimming. She has represented our country and is dedicated to whatever she does.
“Her career choice was between medicine and finance, but she can’t stand blood, so medicine is out,” he smiled.