Orange city’s blind girl Ishwari Pande created history by swimming 17km from Elephanta in Arabain Sea to the famous Gateway of India in Mumbai in four hours and two minutes.
With this achievement Ishwari became the first blind swimmer in the country to achieve this feat. ” This is just starting, I will now try to create a world record,” said Ishwari after her successful attempt.
Ishwari took the plunge in the water at 6.30 am and reached Gateway of India at 10.32 am thus registering her name in the Asian Book of Records.
Ishwari, who is trained by NIS coach Sanjay Batwe, was accompanied Sukhdev Dhurve, who also doubled up as the observer of Asian Book of Records, Ishant Pande, Vilas Fale, Sandip Vaidya, Ravindra Tarare and Shankar Ashtankar.
For her latest successful expedition, Ishwarihad practiced in cold Ambazari Waters for 4-5 hours daily under Batwe’s watchful eyes.