Finswimming athlete Garima felicitated at Sarojini Sports Academy; Kiran lauds family

Finswimming athlete Garima Mishra was felicitated at the Sarojini Sports Academy, RTC Cross Road, Nallakunta, Hyderabad. The 14-year-old Garima Mishra is set to represent India at the 2026 CMAS Asian Championship Finswimming Indoor Juniors to be held in Haian, Republic of China.

The programme celebrated Garima’s selection to the Indian team and also marked the launch of her official India sport kit. The ceremony was attended by distinguished personalities from the fields of administration, sports, education and public life, along with coaches, supporters and well-wishers.

Hyderabad’s Garima Mishra to represent India at CMAS Asian Finswimming Championship

The programme was graced by Dr Ashok, former commissioner of labour, and VN Vishnu, a retired bureaucrat, as the chief guests. Presiding over the ceremony, G Kiran Reddy, former national volleyball player and founder director of SCFA, highlighted the remarkable journey of young Garima Mishra and appreciated the dedication and sacrifices of her family.

Kiran Reddy said that the hard work and commitment of Pandit Sandeep Mishra, Garima’s father and who has been her first mentor, deserves special appreciation. He said that Garima’s achievement is particularly remarkable as her family, residing in the Old City of Hyderabad, has encouraged their daughter to pursue sporting excellence and reach the prestigious level of representing India.

He further observed that supporting and encouraging a girl child to pursue her sporting dreams and compete at the international level is a commendable achievement in itself. He congratulated Garima and her father for their dedication and expressed confidence that her journey would inspire many more young girls to take up sports and dream of representing the country.

The guests of honour included Ramesh Kumar Bung, ex-chairman, AP Mahesh Co-operative Urban Bank Limited; Bharat Kumar Chanda, Bharatiya Janata Party – Traders Cell, Telangana pradesh joint co-convener; and Chepur Sridevi, retired national volleyball player and the South Central Railway women’s coach.

The ceremony highlighted the importance of providing young athletes with the necessary training, sports equipment, encouragement and support to compete at national and international levels. The organisers expressed their gratitude to Maithan Alloys Ltd., Rahul Swim Academy (RSA), Underwater Sports Association India, Kolkata Thunderbolts and all supporters associated with Garima’s sporting journey.

The programme echoed the inspiring message: “On the world map of international sports, Indian flag will rise in every sport.”

The guests expressed confidence that Garima’s achievement would inspire more youngsters, particularly young girls, to take up finswimming and other aquatic sports and aspire to represent India on international platforms.

The ceremony concluded with heartfelt wishes to Garima Mishra as she prepares to represent India at the 2026 CMAS Asian Championship Finswimming Indoor Juniors in Haian, Republic of China. The dignitaries, organisers, coaches, family members and sporting fraternity extended their support and best wishes to the young champion, hoping that she would perform with confidence and bring laurels to India and Telangana.