AHMEDABAD: Jhiniba shot ahead leaving other competitors in the backstroke swimmingcategory behind. She owes her victory to her village pond where she spent most of her time.
Jhini Nakia, 73, who hails from Katuda village near Wadhwan in Surendranagar, has never seen a swimming pool or ever worn a swimming costume. On Thursday though she not only had her first plunge in the swimming pool but also gave a tough competition to the regular swimmers.
Fondly known as Jhiniba in her village, she has never taken any professional coaching but has been in love with swimming since the age of five. Jhini was adjudged the second best in the 50 metre backstroke swimming at the Khel Mahakumbh which concluded on Friday. She was awarded a cheque of Rs 4,500.
The only problem is she does not have any bank account. "What do I do with this paper," she asked Natubhai Jhala, the school teacher from her village who was instrumental in bringing Jhini to the city for the Khel Mahakumbh.
Jhiniba says "I never wanted to take part in the competition, but it was my son who insisted that I should be taking part." At 25, her husband died and she had an uphill task of bringing up her children. She worked as a labour in farm. Now that her sons have grown up and are working, she is a regular visitor to the pond with her grandsons.
She says that she will now open a bank account to encash the cheque. "I will carry out repairs in my house which is a kacha house," she said.
Jhini Nakia, 73, who hails from Katuda village near Wadhwan in Surendranagar, has never seen a swimming pool or ever worn a swimming costume. On Thursday though she not only had her first plunge in the swimming pool but also gave a tough competition to the regular swimmers.
Fondly known as Jhiniba in her village, she has never taken any professional coaching but has been in love with swimming since the age of five. Jhini was adjudged the second best in the 50 metre backstroke swimming at the Khel Mahakumbh which concluded on Friday. She was awarded a cheque of Rs 4,500.
The only problem is she does not have any bank account. "What do I do with this paper," she asked Natubhai Jhala, the school teacher from her village who was instrumental in bringing Jhini to the city for the Khel Mahakumbh.
Jhiniba says "I never wanted to take part in the competition, but it was my son who insisted that I should be taking part." At 25, her husband died and she had an uphill task of bringing up her children. She worked as a labour in farm. Now that her sons have grown up and are working, she is a regular visitor to the pond with her grandsons.
She says that she will now open a bank account to encash the cheque. "I will carry out repairs in my house which is a kacha house," she said.
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