Swimming pool ke ek chhor par, 12 saal ki Smriti Singh finish par nazar jamaye aage badh rahi thi. Bagal wale pool mein, uski twin sister Kashvi har stroke mein uska saath de rahi thi. Thoda aage, unki badi behen Avni (16) bhi paani mein thi — teenon bahnein ek hi chhat ke neeche, alag-alag categories mein, haal hi mein New Delhi mein huye National School Games mein race kar rahi thi.
Spectators ke liye yeh ek anokha nazara tha — Vadodara ki teen behnein ek hi national swimming meet mein participate kar rahi thi, bhale hi alag-alag categories mein. Gujarat mein shayad yeh pahla aisa parivaar hai jahan 3 champion female swimmers ne ek saath national swimming tournament ke liye qualification hasil ki ho. Lekin Singh family ke liye yeh saalon ki discipline, strict diet aur quiet determination ka result hai.
Smriti ne Under-14 category ke 4X100 metre medley relay race mein bronze jeeta, jabki Avni ne U-17 category mein National School Games mein top eight athletes mein apna place banaya.
“Mere liye yeh dekhna bahot khushi ki baat thi ki meri betiyan ek saath national swimming tournament mein compete kar rahi thi. Teenon ne mehnat ki aur saalon tak practice karke National School Games ke liye qualify kiya. Aur abhi bhi unke liye bahot kuch achieve karna baaki hai,” ghar sambhalne wali Lakshmi Singh ne kaha.
Unki achievement ko khaas yeh banata hai ki Smriti aur Kashvi ka janm underweight hua tha, jabki Avni bachpan mein feeble legs ki wajah se running mein problem karti thi. “Humne decide kiya ki Avni ko 4 saal ki umra mein swimming ki training denge taaki uski strength badhe, aur usne paani mein jaldi hi apna comfort dikhaya. 2021 mein usne Khel Mahakumbh mein apna first medal jeeta aur tab se peeche nahi dekha. Avni ab ek strong athlete hai, aur state-level tournaments mein usne 21 gold, 25 silver aur 21 bronze medals jeete,” Lakshmi ne TOI ko bataya.
Unke pita Sanjeev Singh ek engineer hain jo Vadodara ki ek private company mein kaam karte hain.
Apni badi bahen ke lead karne par, Smriti aur Kashvi ne chhoti umra mein hi pool mein kadam rakha. Jo starting mein ek halki si dive thi, jaldi hi ek winning streak mein badal gayi, aur twins ne district aur state-level tournaments mein medals jeetne start kiye. Subah-subah ki practice sessions se lekar competitive meets tak, teenon ne paani mein saath-saath grow kiya. Smriti ne kaha, “Humne bachpan se hi saath practice ki. Competete karna mazaa hai aur saath hi apni bahen ke saath is sport ki intricacies seekhna bhi.”
Avni ne add kiya ki hectic academic schedule ke saath swimming manage karna challenging hai, lekin humne apni padhai aur sporting activity ko balance kar liya. Teeno bahno ne itni chhoti umar mein state aur national tournaments mein milkar 100 se jada medals jeete.
Vivek Singh Borliya, jo behno ko Krishna Pandya ke saath coach karte hain, ne kaha, “Ye bahot hi diligent hain aur kabhi bhi training session miss nahi karti. Mujhe poora vishwas hai ki ye bahot saare tournaments jeetengi aur ek din international games mein bhi desh ka naam roshan karengi. “Ye bahnein, jo Poddar World School mein padhti hain, competitive swimming ke physical demands ko pura karne ke liye strict diet follow karti hain. “Humne unke liye ek nutritionist hire kiya hai. Meri betiyan healthy food prefer karti hain aur bahut kam bahar khati hain,” Lakshmi ne kaha.
