Self-propelled Champion

  • Barnali Dutta / FG
  • India
  • Jul 25, 2014

 

Shivani Kataria has been selected for the Youth Olympics, which will be held in Nanjing, China from August 17.

India's promising swimming star, Shivani Kataria, is a girl who wished to do things differently. Hailing from a modest background, the country’s latest water belle has high ambitions – of transcending the ordinary and making her name in an exclusive arena of achievers. However, at the start she was not sure where her fortunes lay. She was very fond of tennis, as also of Sharapova and Sania. But, at eight, with her first splash in the pool during a summer camp, she was hooked to swimming. She took to it like a duck to water! 

She won accolades and wins at the school, and then at the State, level. She dreamt of representing her State at the National level, and then the country at international events. She has fared well at both junior and senior national level competitions, where she has won some top-three positions. She has proved her mettle as a swimmer par-excellence in two events – the butterfly and freestyle. ”At present I am preparing for the 2016 Olympic, and for that I have moved to Bangalore,” she says. She is being coached by Nihar Ameen, a top swimming coach associated with the Dolphin Academy, at the J.P. Park in Mathikere (Bangalore). Among Ameen’s earlier trainees have been the first Indian athletes to qualify for the Olympics - Shikha Tandon, for Athens, 2004, and Virdhawal Khade and Sandeep Sejwa, for Beijing, 2008. From 1989 to 1992 Ameen was the Assistant National Team Coach in the USA with the Team Director and Olympic Coach, Jack Nelson. He is also a member of the panel of experts for ‘Go Sports Foundation’, a non- government organisation. “Ameen Sir is very supportive,” says Shivani. She is equally thankful to her School, which has allowed her to participate in all important swimming competitions. “I am particularly grateful to my Principal, Mrs. Anita Makkar, who recognised my talent and always encouraged me to pursue swimming along with my studies. Without such a supportive school I would not have been where I am today,” she says. Shivani is currently a student of the Eleventh standard at the DAV Public School in Gurgaon.

Shivani has successfully juggled academics with a career in swimming. She did reasonably well at the ICSE Board examination, managing an overall 75 per cent score. It was a rather hectic schedule for a girl of 15 - to be competing at National swimming competitions while cramming for the Board exams. In fact the young girl also has some favourite pastimes. “I do enjoy cooking, reading and listening to music. Justin Bieber is my favourite….I love all his songs,” she smiles. She admits that she has had to forego chhole-bhature, since she has to keep a strict watch on her weight. She has a fancy for pasta, and likes to cook it also. 

 


     Photos: Prakhar Pandey

 

Shivani has a maturity beyond her years. At an age and time when most girls are interested in fashion, fun and friends, she is focused on swimming. She realises that if she wants to become a world-class swimmer, she has perhaps the next ten years to do so. She is intent on achieving her swimming goals before settling down to prepare for the Civil Service exams. Yes, she wants to become a civil servant once she has ‘hung up her costume’. “I cannot bask in the glory of my swimming laurels for the rest of my life. A swimming career is a short one. I must have a meaningful ‘occupation’ after that,” she says. She would like to build a ‘sustainable career’ before entertaining any thoughts of marriage. “In any case I do not intend to get married before 25,” she says. Her family supports her decision. “My father is my inspiration,” says Shivani, her immense respect reflecting in her eyes. Shivani’s father, who is in the realty business apart from owning some agricultural land in Haryana, is very supportive of his daughter’s decisions. He is a bit cut up with the authorities, though. “I am somewhat disappointed with the government. The administration and society show little appreciation (forget respect) for a sport like swimming – only cricket seems to matter,” he says. “I hail from a village, where I have some agricultural land. I have leased it out, to fund my daughter’s dreams,” he adds. In Haryana, which is known for boxing and wrestling, the State government in recent times has recognised that sports talent and now provides good support. But it’s very early days for swimming. It is indeed disappointing that a Haryana girl, who could do the State proud in the nationals, and maybe prove to be a mentor for so many girls, is being ignored in her own State….as also by us Millennium City folk. Fortunately, this has not deterred the young lady. She wants to, and will, pursue her dreams and make them come true. Her brother, who likes to swim as well, eggs her on. “She has a passion for swimming, and I want her to excel and fulfill her dreams,” he says, looking at his sister fondly. “She even swims a stroke or two in her sleep,“ he signs off with a chuckle.


 

Medals won


2013 


40th. Junior National Swimming Meet

2 Gold: 200m and 100m Freestyle 

1 Silver: 50m Freestyle 

1 Bronze: 50m Butterfly

 

School Nationals

3 Gold:50m, 100m and 200m Freestyle

 

Seniors Nationals

1 Silver: 50m Freestyle

2 Bronze: 50m and 100 Freestyle


2014 


41st. Junior National Swimming Meet 

5 Gold (with 4 new Meet records) 

Best Swimmer in Group 1 

       

Dubai International Meet 

2 Silver:100m and 200 Freestyle

1 Bronze: 50 Freestyle

 

Porto International Meet 

1 Silver:100 Freestyle

1 Bronze: 200 Freestyle

 

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