An eight-year-old girl from Dombivli has earned widespread admiration after successfully completing a demanding 17-km open sea swim from Atal Setu to the Gateway of India in just 2 hours and 52 minutes.
Young Swimmer Overcomes Challenging Sea Conditions
Eva Sanvi Dinesh Parte, a Class IV student of Omkar International School, began the swim around 3 am on Monday after offering prayers to the sea.
She completed the route at approximately 5:52 am despite facing difficult open-water conditions, including:
- Strong winds
- High waves
- Dark pre-dawn visibility
- Heavy movement of boats and ships
- Unstable sea currents
According to her coaches and family members, floating waste in the water — including plastic bottles, coconuts, flower garlands, and tree branches — also made the swim more difficult.
Determination Despite Repeated Obstacles
During the swim, water repeatedly entered Eva’s goggles, forcing her to stop briefly several times. However, she continued swimming and eventually reached the Gateway of India, where supporters, relatives, and local residents welcomed her achievement.
Her endurance and discipline at such a young age drew praise from swimming enthusiasts and residents across the region.
Started Swimming to Reduce Screen Time
Family members said Eva initially took up swimming after her parents encouraged more outdoor activity and less screen exposure.
She trained at Yash Gymkhana and gradually developed an interest in long-distance and sea swimming after watching older swimmers practice.
According to her family:
“She would often say that she wanted to swim in the sea like the other children.”
Intensive Training Under Coaches
Over the past three months, Eva reportedly trained for nearly three hours every day under coaches:
- Vilas Mane
- Ravi Navale
The swim was conducted under the supervision of Sunil Mayekar from the Maharashtra State Amateur Swimming Association.
Preparing for an Even Bigger Challenge
Following the successful 17-km swim, Eva is now reportedly preparing for her next challenge — a 36-km open sea swim from Dharamtar to the Gateway of India.
