Kamal Ghorui
What do you do when a 7-year-old breaks a world record?
Meet Ishank Singh. He’s just 7, but he loves water so much that people call him a “water baby.” He started swimming when he was only 3! When he decided to swim across the Palk Strait (a huge 29 km stretch between Sri Lanka and India), he trained for up to 8 hours every day. That’s like a full school day—just swimming!
And guess what? He did it. He crossed the sea in 9 hours and 50 minutes, becoming the youngest and fastest person to do it. While most kids his age are learning math and grammar in school, Ishank is already dreaming of going to the Olympics.
But here’s the big question: how can India help kids like Ishank achieve their dreams?
Right now, India doesn’t have a strong system to support young sports stars. There are many talented kids, but they often don’t get enough help. In sports like cricket, things are better now—but in most other sports, kids have to depend on their parents or try to find sponsors on their own. That’s really hard and not fair.
So what does Ishank need next?
Not just practice, but chances to compete.
Not just money, but good coaches and guidance.
Not just physical strength, but a strong and happy mind.
The government and companies should step in and help. If one child can achieve so much, imagine how many more stars are out there waiting to be discovered!
But there’s also something very important to remember: Ishank is still a child. No kid should feel forced to train just to win medals or break records. Sports should be about joy, learning, and love for the game—not just pressure.
Ishank is already a star. Now it’s up to all of us to make sure he—and kids like him—get the support they need to shine even brighter, without losing their childhood.
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