AJIT JOHN
PANJIM: A young Goan swimmer is catching the eye with her talent and more importantly her achievements. Purvi Ritesh Naik from Harvalem, Sanquelim, recently participated in the 40th Sub-Junior and 50th Junior National Aquatic Championship 2024 at Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
She won one gold medal in the 50m freestyle with a timing of 0.30.70, two silver in 400m freestyle timing of 5:04:22, 100m freestyle timing of 1:07:23 and one bronze in 200m freestyle timing of 2:30:62. Presently, she is training at Khelo India State Centre for Excellence Campal, Panjim, under coach Sujith T A. It has been quite a journey for young Purvi.
She started competitive swimming at the age of four winning her first bronze medal at the Goa State Aquatic Championship in the toddlers section, at Peddem, Mapusa. Purvi’s Mother Namrata said that she was determined to ensure her children learned how to swim after an early tragedy in her life.
She said, “I lost my sister, her child, mother and grandmother in a bus accident in Kolhapur when it fell into a river. That struck me and I decided to never go through such a situation again. It is a life skill which is very important.”
Purvi watched her sister swimming and was taken up by the sport.
Her sister Prachi was also a swimmer and she was inspired by her sister who is six years her senior.
Namrata said that Purvi started learning from me and we used to travel from Sanquelim to Peddem for six months on the bike with both my children. Due to the rains, we had to stop because it was too dangerous and we continued in Sanquelim.
“Purvi is a freestyle swimmer and she started off in short distances but is now moving to the long distances too with a new State meet record in the 1,500m. Her training schedule is quite intense. She is at Peddem at 5 am and she goes to school late. She comes home and sleeps and then at four she is at Panjim centre till 7.30 pm for training. This does not change when it comes to rain, summer or storm,” her mother stated.
Purvi aims to go international and she is very thankful to her coach at Khelo India. She has a life outside swimming too to help her get balance. Apart from swimming she also plays the keyboard and is a student of Destiny Music Academy, Sanquelim.
She has answered her Grade 1 exam with distinction from Trinity Music College of London and looks forward to joining the classes again soon as she is on a break from preparing for the nationals.
Her headmistress and teachers at school support and encourage her a lot.