In a remarkable display of familial talent and determination, three sisters from Vadodara recently competed together at the prestigious National School Games in New Delhi. Twelve-year-old twins Smriti and Kashvi Singh, along with their 16-year-old elder sister Avni, raced in various categories under the same roof, turning heads and making their family proud.
From Health Challenges to National Glory
What makes their collective achievement extraordinary are the personal hurdles each sister overcame in childhood. Smriti and Kashvi were born underweight, while Avni struggled with feeble legs that made running difficult. Their parents, Lakshmi and Sanjeev Singh, decided to introduce Avni to swimming at the tender age of four to build her strength. She took to the water immediately, winning her first medal at the Khel Mahakumbh in 2021 and never looking back.
Inspired by their elder sister's success, the twins soon followed her into the pool. What began as tentative plunges evolved into a consistent winning streak at district and state-level competitions. Avni has since become a formidable athlete, amassing an impressive tally of 21 gold, 25 silver, and 21 bronze medals in state-level tournaments.
Discipline, Diet, and Dedication
The sisters' success is not a product of chance but of years of rigorous discipline. They follow a strict diet plan designed by a nutritionist to meet the intense physical demands of competitive swimming. "My daughters prefer healthy food and barely eat outside," shared their mother, Lakshmi Singh, a homemaker.
Their father, Sanjeev Singh, an engineer in Vadodara, supports their sporting ambitions. Balancing a hectic academic schedule from Poddar World School with grueling early-morning practice sessions is challenging, but the sisters have learned to manage both effectively. "We trained together since our childhood. It's fun to compete and, at the same time, learn the intricacies of this sport with my sister," said Smriti.
A Historic Feat and a Bright Future
The recent National School Games marked a significant milestone. Smriti clinched a bronze medal in the Under-14 category 4x100 metre medley relay, while Avni secured a position among the top eight athletes in the U-17 category. Together, the trio has won over 100 medals in state and national tournaments.
Their coaches, Vivek Singh Borliya and Krishna Pandya, praise their unwavering commitment. "They are very diligent and never miss any training session. I am sure they will win a lot of tournaments and make the country proud even in international games someday," said Borliya.
For the Singh family, seeing all three daughters compete on the national stage was the culmination of a long journey. "It was heartening to see my daughters compete together. All three worked hard for years to qualify. And they still have a lot to achieve," Lakshmi Singh told TOI. Their story stands as a powerful testament to how quiet determination, family support, and relentless hard work can transform early vulnerabilities into national-level sporting excellence.
