Little champ: First-grader excels in skating

How much a seven-year-old girl can achieve in sporting events and tournaments? The answer might be difficult to answer, but Rishika Sawlani has won 16 medals by having excelled in skating.

Rishika has been practising skating only for past two years, but she has won medals in all events she has participated in.

Rishika, a class I student of Sri Sri Ravishankar School here and resident of Ghoddod road, has the knack for skating. In last two years, Rishika has won eight gold, six silver and two bronze medals in national, state and district level competitions. The kid also won the National Level Youngest and Fastest Young Roller Skater of India award. The event was held at Kolhapur in Maharashtra in 2008.

Rishika’s success lies in her dedication towards the sport. She practises skating for more than three hours daily to maintain speed and balance in the game.

“On her fifth birthday, Rishika demanded roller skating shoes and I brought her one. She used to practise on her own, but we never took her seriously. Once she participated in a competition organised in her school and she won the first prize. Then we realised her ability and began to motivate her,” says Pankaj Sawlani, Rishika’s father.

Rishika is overjoyed with her success and dedication and wish to participate in international events. And her parents are happily supporting her.

“We have decided to switch Rishika to inland skating to compete at international levels. She hold good record in roller skating and has been taking coaching prior switching to Inland skating,” Sawlani added.