Vaania ready to make a splash

Personality: Just 12, the Karnataka swimmer is already making a name for herself at the senior level

At the tender age of 12, when kids prefer being with friends exploring new avenues life offers, Vaania Kapoor Achuthan loves being at the swimming pool, fine-tuning her strokes and expanding her range.

Vaania is one of the brightest prospects in the sport in Karnataka. Her exploits at the recently concluded National Games and the Senior Nationals late last year mark her out as a talent to watch out for.

“The last season was really good. I was the youngest to take part in the Senior Nationals and also the National Games. Winning medals in Kolkata and following it up at the Thiruvananthapuram, it’s been great,” says Vaania.

The Bengaluru girl ended with a clutch of medals in both the Senior Nationals and the National Games. At the Kolkata meet, Vaania managed to win bronze in the 100M and 200M backstroke while in Thiruvananthapuram, she ended up with bronze medals in the 50M and 100M backstroke and silver in 200M backstroke besides another silver in the 4x100M medley relay.

“Going into the senior events, I did not expect to win medals. This being my first time at a senior meet I wanted to assess my performance against the senior swimmers,” says Vaania, brushing aside the pressure factor. “It differs from one individual to another. In my case, I do not feel any pressure. I don’t step into the pool to beat my opponents. For me it’s a battle with oneself. I look to better my timing and try to give my 100 per cent,” she states.

Getting into swimming was no big task for the little Vaania. With her mother Nandita being a swimmer herself, Vaania was absorbed into the sport at a very young age.

“I have been swimming since I was three. It was my mom who put me into it,” she says. “Back then, I did not expect that I would end up taking up swimming seriously. Within two months of joining, I could complete a 25M lap, something that takes months to perfect,” says Vaania, who went on to make a mark in age-group events nationally, winning a clutch of medals for Karnataka.

Apart from the medals that she has won over the years in various age groups, Vaania also holds national records at the Sub-Junior level, in the 100M and 200M breaststroke events, and her coach Nihar Ameen, at the Dolphin Academy, says she is a natural talent.
“Vaania is a naturally talented kid and all we have done is guide her in improving her strokes,” says Nihar.

A Michael Phelps fan, Vaania is quick to assert the importance her parents have played in her career so far. “My parents have played a very important role in shaping my career. My mom has given up a lot so that she can accompany me when I engage myself in the pool. I look up to her and consider her to be my role model. If not for them I won’t be what I am today,” Vaania states.

Balancing studies, training and competition is the tough part, says Vaania. “Yes, academics play an equally important role. In my case, I am fortunate to be enrolled into a school that is very supportive,” says the class seven student of Primus Public School.

The upcoming season will bring new challenges to the Karnataka swimmer and she is determined to climb greater heights. “I am preparing for the new season. I will be focusing on the Asian age-group meet (at Palembang, Indonesia, in October) and the national meets will help me prepare for that,” says Vaania.