Young Achiever: Apeejay student wins Jalandhar District Swimming Championship

We all know that swimming is an excellent full-body workout that helps students improve their cardiovascular fitness, strength, and flexibility. It engages various muscle groups, providing an effective means of physical exercise. But did you know that swimming is not only good for physical health but also mental well-being?

Believe it or not, the activity can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Being in the water can have a calming and meditative effect, which can benefit students’ mental health. Therefore, it is not surprising that more and more students are taking to the water – some since it is a good form of exercise, others because they love to compete.

Meet one such student – Gurvir Singh Mann, a student of class VIII at Apeejay School, Tanda Road in Jalandhar. What makes Gurvir stand out among his peers is that he won the Gold medal at the Jalandhar District School Swimming Championship.

But this is not all. He has won two Gold Medals and a Silver at Khel Mela held earlier this year. His achievements include a Bronze Medal in the District and three Gold Medals in the School District Championship. Gurvir has also been selected for upcoming swimming relay competitions

Excerpts from the interview

Tell us about yourself.

Besides my love for swimming, I enjoy listening to music and playing cricket. I do this when I want to relax.

What inspired you to get involved in sports?

I learnt swimming because it was a skill that I wanted to learn and add to my list of sporting interests. But in June this year, my interest turned into passion and I started practicing regularly. This is when my technique and speed picked up. This is when my coach realised that I had a knack for it and encouraged me to take it up professionally and compete. And here I am with a few medals in my kitty.

Are you planning to make this your profession?

As I mentioned earlier, I only wanted to learn swimming as a life skill. But now, looking at how far I have come, I am willing to make this my profession. But I am not sure of what the future will bring.

What is your regimen?

I go to my training classes regularly. But now that winter is setting in, the training has come to a halt. But during the summer months, I used to practice daily. I am also looking at places that have seasonal pools where I can join and continue my training.

Share some of your memorable moments.

The fact that I have won three medals since June is a feat that will remain with me forever; this has been my biggest achievement to date.

Swimming strokes you focused on to win the championship.

Every swimmer needs to have a main stroke after freestyle. In total, there are four main strokes. I chose to amalgamate my technique of freestyle and butterfly stroke.

Challenges you faced.

The butterfly stroke is the most difficult. It requires a lot of stamina to learn this technique. Earlier, I was not able to attain good speed at this stroke. So, I started practicing this stroke more. With proper training, I was able to overcome this challenge.

How do you manage your sports with your studies?

Both aspects are very important. I have a simple formula for this. I try to complete my homework in my spare time at the school. I also try to read what has been taught in the class during school hours. This helps me save time and I can concentrate on my training and a little bit more studying.

Advice you would give to upcoming swimmers.

It is a sport which we need to practice very diligently. If you skip even a day’s training, it sets you back by two days. Hence, my advice: Do not skip your sessions; consistency is the key.