Hashika Ramachandra: Karnataka’s Teenage Swimming Prodigy Breaks 13-Year-Old National Record

16-year-old Hashika Ramachandra sets a new national record in the Women's 400m Freestyle at the 77th Senior National Aquatic Championship 2024, continuing her inspiring journey in Indian swimming.

Hashika Ramachandra from Karnataka made an impressive start at the 77th Senior National Aquatic Championship 2024 by breaking a 13-year-old national record in the Women's 400m Freestyle. The 16-year-old clocked 4:24.70 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 4:25.76 held by Jharkhand's Richa Mishra since 2011. Telangana's Vritti Agarwal finished second at 4:25.09, followed by Bhavya Sachdeva, who completed the race in 4:30.94 to secure third place.

Hashika’s swimming journey began at the age of four. Despite facing personal challenges, including the loss of her father in 2017 to pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer, Hashika persevered. Her mother, Latha, sold their family property to support her daughter’s dream of becoming a top swimmer. Under the mentorship of Coach Madhukumar at Dolphin Aquatics in Bengaluru, Hashika has set multiple records.

In 2023, she set a national record in the Women's 200m Medley at the 76th National Aquatic Championships, surpassing the 2010 record of 2:23.62 with her time of 2:21.15. She also became the first female athlete from Karnataka in 23 years to win the ‘Best Female Athlete’ award at the 2022 National Games in Gujarat.

With her incredible achievements at just 16, Hashika is an inspiration to young athletes across India. Her dedication, perseverance, and passion for swimming are paving the way for an even brighter future, with hopes of representing India on the international stage.

Reference:

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