English Channel crosser Bhakti makes Rajasthan proud

Jaipur, Aug 4 (UNI) Eighteen-year-old Bhakti Sharma of Udaipur has made the desert state proud by joining the league of swimmers, who have sucessfully crossed the English Channel.

Starting off from the Dover Port in Shakespare Beach at 6.30 this morning, Bhakti completed the 32 miles stretch in 14 hours.

Though the calm waters in the morning did not pose much difficulty, the last 10 miles were the most strenuous for her.

The icy waters of the Atlantic ocean along with the six to seven feet high tides made the task of Bhakti quite difficult. But the teenager remained determined.

She overcome the hurdles with her perseverance and crossed the English channel to reach the Kli beach in France 8.25 local time, much to the relief of her family members and coach Mahesh Paliwal.

Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje has announed a cash price of Rs. one lakh for her rare accomplishment.

Bhakti, a XIIth standard student of Udaipur's St. Anthony's school inherited her passion for swimming from her mother. Her mother Leena Sharma was a former national champion in swimming. Under her mother's guidance, Bhakti started practising swimming in Udaipur's Pichola and Fathesagar lakes.

Proud father Chandra Shekar sais ''Bhakti cherished the dream of crossing the English Channel from childhood and started her preparations from a very early age.'' He said she laboured hard and started practising by swimming the 36 km stretch from Dharamtal to the Gate Way of India in Mumbai in one stroke from the age of 13.

But Bhakti had to wait till 18 to realise her dream of crossing the Channel as no minor is allowed to swim in the English Channel.

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