Bengaluru teen Dhinidhi Desinghu set to make waves as India's Youngest Olympian at Paris 2024
Paris: Dhinidhi Desinghu, a 14-year-old budding Indian swimmer, is set to represent India at the upcoming Olympics in Paris, competing in the women’s 200m freestyle. As the youngest member of the Indian contingent, Dhinidhi’s journey is an inspiring story of overcoming her initial fear of water to participating in various international swimming competitions.
“But I didn’t like the water, I didn’t want to get in. I couldn’t get my feet into the pool, I couldn’t get my head inside. It was a struggle,” Dhinidhi told The Indian Express. Her journey began when her parents learned how to swim before her to help her feel at ease.
Although she got comfortable in the water, Dhinidhi initially had difficulties in handling the pressure, her mother Jesitha shared with the Indian Express. However, things changed for the better at a state-level open meeting in Mangaluru. Dhinidhi expressed fear and reluctance to swim. Jesitha motivated her to at least see the pool, after which Dhinidhi agreed to compete. She bagged gold and overcame issues with anxiety before competitions, Jesitha recalled.
Dhinidhi shed light upon her habit of writing a diary where she notes everything about her workout, the timing she strives to achieve, her optimal practice times, and national records, among others. Dhinidhi adds: “I write all of it down so that in case I want to know what I have to aim for, I know how far I am. For me, setting goals is a little better because if I have something to work towards, it makes me realise why I am doing all this.”
Along with maintaining a diary, she also has a blog where she shares her journey and experiences, hoping it might help someone else to overcome issues that she faced as a child.
Dhinidhi trains at Dolphin Aquatics in Bengaluru, headed by Dronacharya awardee Nihar Ameen, and is coached by Madhu Kumar. The youngster qualified for the women’s 200m freestyle on a universality quota and will compete alongside Indian swimming veteran Srihari Natara. She holds the record of being the youngest female swimmer to win seven gold medals at the National Games. Additionally, she holds a national record in the women’s 200m freestyle and has participated in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Pastor arrested for conversion bid in UP's Ballia
Ballia (UP) (PTI): A pastor was arrested on Monday from the Sikandarpur area for allegedly inducing religious conversion with promises of money and jobs and hurting religious sentiments, an officer said on Monday.
Acting on a complaint by Gautam Gaur of Jalpa Chowk in Sikandarpur town, police registered a case on Sunday night against Jose Thomas, 47, a resident of Patna's New Pataliputra Colony, under relevant provisions of the BNS and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.
According to the complaint, Thomas was found at a house in Ward No. 5 here, allegedly addressing 15-20 women and children, promoting conversion to Christianity and making objectionable remarks about Hindu deities while offering inducements, police said.
The police arrested the accused on Monday morning, Superintendent of Police Omvir Singh said.
He said police have recovered 124 religious books, a music system, three microphones and other items from his possession.
According to the police, Thomas, who is originally from Patna, was currently residing in Karikom, Kaddithara, in Kerala, and he was in Ballia for conversion purposes.
