What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: At just 16 years old, Bengaluru’s Hashika Ramachandra is making waves at the 77th Senior National Aquatic Championships 2024 in Mangaluru. Training under Nataraj at the Basavanagudi Aquatic Center, Hashika has already made headlines by breaking the national record in the Women’s 400m Freestyle. She clocked an impressive 4:24.70, surpassing Richa Mishra’s previous record of 4:25.76, set in Ranchi. With two golds and a silver already to her name in this competition, Hashika has two more events remaining as she continues her pursuit of excellence.
Reflecting on her record-breaking performance, Hashika expressed surprise. “I didn’t even realize I had broken the record. I knew it was a national record, but I didn’t know it was the best Indian performance in this event. It was my competitors who told me how significant it was. I was happy, but I had to quickly refocus on my next race,” she said.
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Hashika’s journey to the top has not been easy. She lost her father to pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer when she was just eight years old. Her mother, Lata Ramachandra, has been her rock, raising Hashika as a single parent and supporting her budding swimming career. Initially enrolling her daughter in swimming to keep her fit, Lata soon recognized Hashika’s talent and dedication.
“I don’t really miss my father because my mother has made sure I never felt like anything was missing. She’s been my everything, supporting me and my swimming career for over 10 years now. I’m incredibly grateful for all her sacrifices,” Hashika shared.
The young swimmer admitted that she wasn’t always serious about the sport in her early days, occasionally skipping sessions. But after her success in non-medalist meets, she found a passion for swimming and began her rise to national prominence. Last year, she set a national record in the Women’s 200m Medley at the 76th National Aquatic Championships, clocking 2:21.15, breaking another one of Richa Mishra’s long-standing records from 2010.
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Despite her achievements, Hashika has faced the mental and physical challenges that come with elite competition. At times, she even questioned whether she should continue in the sport. To help manage these pressures, she has been working with sports psychologist Dr. Chaitanya for the past six months, having previously worked with Dr. Sathvick Goud for about a year.
“Swimming is a tough sport, and the real challenge is overcoming the mental battles. I didn’t realize how much a psychologist could help until I started working with one. Lack of self-confidence was a big issue for me, but therapy gave me a new perspective. Now, I talk to myself before races, something I learned from my sessions, and it has really helped boost my confidence,” Hashika explained.
Hashika’s impressive performances continued at the Senior National Aquatic Championships, where she clinched another gold for Karnataka in the Women’s 4x200m Freestyle relay alongside teammates Shirin, Shalini R Dixit, and Naisha, with a time of 8:54.85. She also secured silver in the Women’s 200m Medley. Now, she is focused on finishing the championships strong and working towards her ultimate goal—qualifying for the 2026 Asian Games.
“My aim is to qualify for the 2026 Asian Games. The qualifying mark for the Women’s 400m Freestyle is 4:18, and I’m at 4:24 right now. I believe I have enough time to cut down those six seconds. I’m also targeting the 200m Individual Medley and Freestyle events,” Hashika concluded confidently.
