MUMBAI: Swimming, cycling and running — a sporting cocktail which demands tremendous energy, strength, fitness and resilience. It surely is not easy to be a triathlete but this tiny girl from JB Vachha High School aims to achieve excellence in the sport.
Simran Mungekar is only 8 years and 10 months old but has already carved out a niche for herself in the sport. The IV Standard student from Dadar school was the darling of the crowd at the 16th State Triathlon meet recently in Pune.
She gave a fine exhibition of her swimming, cycling and running skills. She was the youngest swimmer from the city to have competed a in triathlon event and win a medal too. She was also given a special prize.
Simran’s tryst with swimming started when she was only two. She once fell into a pool. In stead of crying, she tried to wriggle out of the water moving her tiny hands and legs. Seeing this, the coaches of the pool asked her father to initiate the girl into swimming. She was back at the pool next day.
A winners of many medals at the MSSA age group, Simran initially took up aquathon — an event of swimming and athletics — and won medals in 2004. Two years later, she graduated to triathlon. “I love swimming and want to compete,” says Simran.
She has the encouragement from her parents who want her to do well in the sport. “Studies apart, she has to excel in sports too,” says mother Samrutti Mungekar.
The Maharashtra State Triathlon Association has promised all support. “We are here to promote the sport, and if there is a young talent like Simran, we will give all the support,” said MSTA secretary Dayanand Kumar.
