Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee congratulated open water swimming champion, now world record holder Bhakti Sharma for swimming 1.42 mile in Antarctic Ocean in 52 minutes.

Narendra Modi said, “We all are very very proud of Bhakti Sharma for her accomplishments. My best wishes to her.”

By swimming in Antarctica, Bhakti has become the youngest in the world and first Asian to swim in cold waters.

Hindustan Zinc Limited had sponsored her for her feat and she signed an MOU as well. Corporate Communication’s Head Pawan Kaushik said that Bhakti Sharma has made India proud in the world and it is indeed a pleasure for HZL to be associated with her feat.

Bhakti Sharma had started swimming at the age of 10 and since last 10 years, she has been an open water swimmer. In open water swimming, she holds the record for being the youngest to have swum in 4 oceans and 8 channels and seas.

In the year 2010, she was awarded with Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award by the President. In 2006, Rajasthan Government presented her the citation.