Indore's Palak to compete at World Aquatics C'ship
In the championship that began on July 11, Palak is set to compete in three events, scheduled for July 28, July 30, and Aug 3, with high expectations riding on her performance. She departed for Singapore on Wednesday for the championship.
Her consistent progress in diving and previous international accolades have made her one of India's most promising talents in aquatic sports. This is her second consecutive appearance at the global event, making it a rare achievement for an Indian woman diver.
The World Aquatics Championship is one of the biggest international platforms in aquatic sports, featuring six disciplines: diving, swimming, open water swimming, artistic swimming, water polo, and high diving. This year's edition has drawn more than 2000 athletes from over 200 countries.
"Representing India on the world stage again feels unreal. I'm excited, focused, and ready to dive in. This time, I know what to expect, and I want to make it count," Palak told TOI.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Born into a modest family in Indore, Palak is the daughter of Pankaj Sharma, who runs a sweets shop and Bhagyashree Sharma, a homemaker. She began diving at the age of eight and since then rose rapidly through the ranks with sheer determination, talent, and discipline. Her journey is guided by coach Ramesh Vyas, a Vishwamitra awardee, who trained her with a focus on both technical excellence and mental strength.
Palak practices nearly eight hours a day and to accommodate training her family even changed her school four times.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, she continued her training on the terrace of her house, practising techniques on mattresses and doing regular workouts to stay fit.
Her medal tally speaks volumes: Three gold medals in U-19 category at 38th National Games, along with a silver and a bronze in the senior division at Singapore International Aquatic Championships 2024, as well as national accolades like Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar and Madhya Pradesh's Eklavya Award.
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