In a press conference held today evening, Vedanta Company Hindustan Zinc Ltd. formally announced their support to Open Water Swimming International Champion Bhakti Sharma towards her attempt to break the world record by swimming in Antarctica.

Bhakti Sharma will be leaving for Antarctica on 4th January and will try to break the record set by Lewis Pugh, South Africa who swam in Antarctica for 1Km. Bhakti will attempt to swim 2.5 kilometers in the freezing waters, in normal swimming attire, without the precautions of a wet suit.  If successful, Bhakti would become the first woman to the world record to have swam in the open waters of Antarctica.

Akhilesh Joshi, CEO of Hindustan Zinc informed, “Company has in the past also sponsored many sports persons for promotion of their sport; viz. athlete Krishna Poonia, weight lifter Mala Sukhwal, Jabbar Ali, and Limbaram. Bhakti Sharma is a resident of Rajasthan and being particularly from Udaipur and HZL being one of the largest corporate in Rajasthan we felt we should come forward and support such achievers.”

An elated Bhakti Sharma, in her speech to media said, “I am very thankful to Hindustan Zinc for promoting Open Water Swimming sport and I believe girls in India are very talented and can certainly make their mark internationally. Support from Hindustan Zinc is essential for a sports person like me and others as this helps the sportsman in giving their 100%”.

Bhakti Sharma has been pursuing Open Water Swimming for last 10 years and has also swam across 4 oceans, 8 channels and seas, which itself is a world record. These records have been achieved by her during the period 2004-2010. In the year 2010, President of India awarded her with Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award. In 2006, the Rajasthan government also recognized and commended her efforts.

Bhakti Sharma has also shown her keenness in promoting CSR initiatives of Hindustan Zinc in Rajasthan. The MoU in this regard was signed today in the presence of Akhilesh Joshi – CEO, Amitabh Gupta – CFO and Pavan Kaushik – Head Corporate Communications of Hindustan Zinc Ltd.