Ahmedabad swimmer Maana Patel makes history

AHMEDABAD: At 13 years, Ahmedabad swimmer Maana Patel etched her name in history books after she broke three national records at the 40th Junior National Aquatics Championship which concluded in Hyderabad on Saturday.
After giving India's best timings in 50m and 100m backstroke, Maana clocked 2.23.41 in 200m backstroke on Saturday to break Shikha Tandon's national record of 2.26.41 at the Asia Age Group Championship in Tokyo in August 2009.
Overwhelmed, Maana said that breaking Olympian Shikha's record was a matter of great pride. "I am happy that I made my parents, coach and my friends proud. This is the best moment of my life. Feels like a dream," Maana said.
The teenager started her record-breaking streak on Wednesday by clocking 1.05.67 in 100m backstroke to better Shikha's national record set at the national championship in Kolkata in September 2003. Two days later, she timed 00.30.74 in the 50m backstroke sinking the previous record of 00.31.22 made by Fariha Zaman of Assam in November 2008 at the same venue in Hyderabad.
Maana is now the youngest-ever in the history of Indian swimming to break three national records at the same event. "This is an outstanding performance. I have not seen a better show in my life," said Maana's coach Kamlesh Nanavati., who is also the general secretary of Swimming Federation of India.