CITY-BASED swimming coach Aayush Yadav was among those who helped Hyderabad’s entrepreneur Goli Syamala conquer the famous Palk Strait that separates India and Sri Lanka. Syamala made it to the record books as only second Indian woman after Bula Choudhury to achieve the feat swimming the 30 kms stretch in under 14 hours on Friday. Syamala dived into the sea waters from Sri Lanka at 4.15 am and reached the Indian shores in 13 hours and 43 seconds at Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu.

 

It came almost after 17 years as Choudhury had completed the swim in 2004. Syamala had undergone training at the Sports Authority of Telangana State Swimming Pool at Gachibowli under the watchful eyes of swimming instructor Yadav. “Both Syamala, who took up swimming seriously only a few years ago, and myself were confident that she would do it. Her feat will inspire and encourage a lot of women who look to achieve greater heights in life,” said Yadav.

 

The 46-year-old Syamala, who earlier participated in major swimming events like the National Open Water Ganga River Swimming Competition in which she completed a distance of 13 kms in one hour and 50 minutes, is an animation movies producer and director. Yadav is son of former member of Nav Maharashtra Krida Mandal Nandini Ghate-Yadav and nephew of Vijay Ghate, who is also associated with many sports bodies of the city.