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– NEW DELHI
Open water swimming champion Bhakti Sharma of India set a world record by swimming 1.4 miles in 52 minutes in one degree temperature in the Antarctic Ocean.
Bhakti on Jan. 13 became the first Indian woman to achieve this feat, beating the record of British open water swimming champion Lewis Pugh and American swimmer Lynne Cox, according to information received here.
She is the youngest and the first Asian girl to have achieved this success and has now conquered all the five oceans of the world. Hindustan Zinc sponsored Bhakti in her quest.
“We are very proud of Bhakti Sharma for this rare achievement. The whole country is proud of her and particularly girls who would be seeing her as inspiration to join swimming. Her achievement only proves that given the right support and opportunities, India can produce many such talents,” Akhilesh Joshi, CEO of Hindustan Zinc, said.
Bhakti had been pursuing open water swimming for the last 10 years and also swam across four oceans, eight channels and seas, which itself is a world record.
In 2010, she was awarded the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award.
President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Jan. 15 congratulated Bhakti for setting the world record.
In his message, the president said, “I am delighted to know that you have set a world record, becoming the world’s youngest and the first Asian girl to achieve this feat.”
“Your success is a matter of great pride for all Indians, especially our youth. The whole country joins your family and you in celebrating this impressive achievement.
“I extend my congratulations and wish you continued success in all future endeavours,” he said.
Modi too congratulated Bhakti. “We are all very very proud of Bhakti Sharma for her accomplishments! My best wishes to her,” Modi said in a statement.
