MUMBAI: Swimming from the Bandra-Worli Sea Link to the Gateway of India, a distance of 36 kilometres, in 8 hours and 40 minutes, a 12-year-old daughter of a naval sailor made history on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Defence in its statement said the young girl – Jiya Rai swam 36 km to increase awareness about autism.
“She commenced her record-setting feat in the early morning hours of Feb 17 at 03:50 am from Bandra-Worli Sea Link and completed at Gateway of India at 12:30 pm,” said a ministry spokesperson.
Under the supervision of the Swimming Association of Maharashtra, an approved organization of the Swimming Federation of India, the swimming event was carried out. The event was also associated with FIT India Movement by Ministry of Youth and Sports Affair.
On February 17, an award ceremony was held at the Gateway of India in Mumbai, where Zarir N Baliwala, President of the Greater Mumbai Amateur Aquatic Association, congratulated Jiya with a trophy (GMAAA).
#Watch Ms Jiya Rai created a record as the youngest girl diagnosed with ASD to swim the dist of 36 km in open sea.
The message is quite clear by the gritty girl – Let nothing stop you from realising your true potential!!@ddsahyadrinews @DDNewsHindi @ANI @mygovindia @MahaDGIPR pic.twitter.com/1XeBGxpA5Z— PRO Defence Mumbai (@DefPROMumbai) February 18, 2021
Jiya suffers from ASD, a complex developmental condition that involves protracted challenges in social interaction, speech and nonverbal communication, and restricted/repetitive behaviours.
Earlier, on February 15 last year, Jiya swam from Elephanta Island to the Gateway of India, 14 km in three hours, 27 minutes and 30 seconds, holding a world record for the youngest girl with ASD to swim 14 kilometers in open waters.
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