Jiya has previously set a record by successfully swimming across the Arabian Sea from Bandra-Worli Sea link to Gateway of India in Mumbai.
Chennai: It was a proud moment for the country when a 13-year-old girl with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) set a record by swimming from Sri Lanka to India via Palk Strait. The girl, Jiya Rai from Mumbai, covered a distance of 28.5 kilometers from Sri Lanka’s Talaimannar to Arichalmunai in Tamil Nadu’s Dhanushkodi in a span of 13 hours 10 minutes. Jiya Rai is the daughter of Madan Rai, who works at the Indian Navy. The girl has not only become an inspiration to differently-abled persons but for aspiring swimmers across the world.
Jiya Rai set out on her journey at 4.22 a.m. on Sunday, March 20, after obtaining permission from Sri Lankan and Indian authorities. She arrived in Arichalmunai at 5.32 p.m. At the Indian shore, she was greeted by a big crowd led by Tamil Nadu Director General of Police C Sylendra Babu.
As per the reports, Jiya has previously set a record by successfully swimming across the Arabian Sea from Bandra-Worli Sea link to Gateway of India in Mumbai. During the record in February 2021, she covered a distance of 36 km in 8 hours and 40 minutes, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded her achievement in ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
