Shraddha completes journey, eyes Tokyo Olympics

VARANASI: Swimming wonder Shraddha Shukla, who has earned recognition as 'Jalpari', has now set her eyes on Summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo in 2020. She completed the final leg of her 570-km journey after she reached the ancient Dashashwamedh Ghat on Tuesday evening amid squeals of 'Har Har Mahadev'.
In a tete-a-tete with TOI after a rousing welcome, Shraddha said, "Olympics has been a dream ever since I started swimming and after this marathon I wish to participate in 2020 Summer Olympics and bag a gold medal for my country.For this, I will also seek help from government and start training and practice near No. 7 Air Force in Kanpur."
Like any other 11-year old, she devotes fixed hours for studying, fancies Hindi as a subject but does not like movies. She considers her grandfather Munnu Lal Shukla as her role model for training her since she was two-and-a-half year old and he is still guiding her. "When I made up my mind to take up the journey from Kanpur to Varanasi, baba (her grandfather) told me that after the swimming marathon in swollen Ganga, my learning practice in river would be complete and we would move on to learning styles and other modalities in swimming pool. So, now I cannot wait to be back and get admission in the swimming school," a beaming Shraddha said.
Talking about the response of people that she got along the embankments during the journey, she said, "It was so encouraging. I wish I could thank them all individually for sparing their time just to see me swim. The applause and cheers and chants gave me additional strength and positive vibes." She said it was an amazing journey. "I hope that my message for 'Clean Ganga' motivates people to keep sanctity of the river intact and keep it clean," she said.
Her father Lalit Shukla said that they faced problems, including the swift current in the stream due to floods and also animals at Kalakakad and Chunar on the way. "But despite all that, we are glad that she reached her destination and completed the journey," Shukla said, adding that the journey was completed in 10 days against their plan to cover the distance in a week.
When asked about the controversy with documentary filmmaker Vinod Kapdi alleging that young swimmer was not swimming the whole length, Shukla said, "Just because I rejected his offer to shoot a documentary on her, Kapdi started making allegations."
He said that he did not want any film to be shot as another filmmaker had made a documentary on her life but cast another as lead and only gave Shraddha's name in credits. An FIR has been lodged against Kapdi in Mirzapur by Shukla.
Shraddha was accorded a warm welcome from a stream of followers and admirers as she reached the ancient Dashashwamedh ghat on Tuesday evening. Several voluntary organizations, including Saraswati Swimming Association and Banaras District Central Swimming Association and members of Namami Gange felicitated Shraddha for her swimming marathon. Many people were even seen clicking selfies with her as she smiled and posed for pictures.