Swimming sensations

"Our community, though small on land, leaves its triumphant mark even on water,” notes the May 2012 issue of What’s on, the newsletter of the Karachi Zarthosti Banu Mandal. "Our community in Pakistan is like a drop in the ocean of millions of people. On March 31 and April 1, three such young drops of water jumped into the swimming pool of Karachi Gymkhana, amongst several national swimmers of Pakistan, to participate in the 12th National Women’s Junior Swimming Championship,” adds What’s on, referring to the accomplishments of Perin Avari, Anushe Engineer and Fiona Aga.

In the under 16 age group Perin won six gold, two silver and three bronze, taking her tally of medals to 11 at the event in March-April. Currently studying at the Karachi American School in grade 10, her first exposure to competitive swimming was at the Sindh Club, the Karachi Gymkhana and the Karachi Parsi Institute. It was only when she was included on the school swim team in 2007 for an interschool competition in Bombay that she realized her potential and went on to become the youngest captain of the School’s swim team in 2011, mentions an introduction to the young swimmer. With her father Xerxes enjoying sailing and mother Dilnaz taking the children to the beach at every opportunity, swimming came naturally to Perin.

Winning five gold and four silver medals in the under 14 age group, Anushe has been making her mark since the age of seven when she participated in the Sindh Women’s Swimming Championship in 2006, according to a family source. Since then she has been participating in this Championship each year, representing her Karachi Grammar School. When she participates in national competitions, she represents Team Sindh. Last year at the National Women’s Open Swimming Championship she earned a bronze medal in breast stroke. Daughter of Khushnuma and Dinyar Engineer, the Grade 8 student also participates in community swimming competitions at the Karachi Parsi Institute and at local club competitions. Besides swimming she is a regular at rowing competitions and plays a variety of sports in school.

Eleven-year-old Fiona won a silver in the 100 m backstroke and six bronze medals for 50 m backstroke, 50 m breaststroke, 100 m breaststroke, 200 m breaststroke, 200 m freestyle, 100 m freestyle and 400 m freestyle. Additionally she won two gold medals, one each for the 4x100 m medley relay and the 4x100 m freestyle relay. Daughter of Zeena and Behram Aga, Fiona studies at the Karachi American School and is on the School swimming team. She had an opportunity to participate in the South Asian Inter School Association (SAISA) competition hosted by the Chennai American School in October 2011 when International/American Schools from Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Colombo, Dhaka and Kathmandu sent their teams.

Fiona, as also her 12-year-old brother Kawas, train daily for two hours to build their swimming stamina. Last July Kawas won a gold in the 50 m butterfly and a silver in the 100 m butterfly at the nationals. He additionally won two gold medals in the relay events. When he participated in the SAISA meet in 2011, he won the first place in the butterfly event, mention the parents.