Jiya Rai, a 16-year-old from Mumbai with Autism Spectrum Disorder, has become the world’s youngest and fastest para swimmer to cross the English Channel, a feat which she accomplished on July 28-29.

Ms Rai swam the English Channel from Abbot’s Cliff in England to Pointe de la Courte-Dune in France in a time of 17 hours and 25 minutes between July 28 and 29, covering a distance of 34 kilometres.

She is the daughter of Madan Rai, the MC-at-Arms serving in Mumbai. The Western Naval Command (WNC) congratulated the young para swimmer on her feat.

“All personnel of WNC convey their heartiest congratulations to Jiya Rai for becoming the world’s youngest and fastest female para swimmer to successfully swim solo across the English Channel,” the Western Naval Command (IN_WNC) wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

@SwimmerJiya does it again!

All personnel of WNC convey their heartiest congratulations to Ms Jiya Rai for becoming the world’s youngest and fastest female para swimmer to successfully swim solo across the English Channel.@SpokespersonMoD@MoHFW_INDIA@HQ_IDS_Indiahttps://t.co/38gFKSrFtfpic.twitter.com/ECh6zmrzRF

— Western Naval Command (@IN_WNC) July 29, 2024

“Jiya, a 16-year-old girl with Autism Spectrum disorder, is the daughter of Madan Rai, MC-at-Arms, serving at Mumbai. She has many inspiring achievements to her credit, including swimming across the Palk Bay earlier,” the WNC added.

Despite her disabilities, she is on a mission to become the world’s first and youngest para swimmer to swim seven oceans.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurological and developmental condition, which affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave.

In December 2022, she swam 1,100 kilometres as a part of a six-member relay team from Mumbai to Goa and back to Vasai Fort in 11 days, 22 hours and 13 minutes, becoming the youngest and only female participant of the team.

According to WNC, Ms Rai has swam across the Palk Strait from Talaimannar (Sri Lanka) to Dhanuskodi (India) covering a distance of 29 kilometres in a world record time of 13 hours and 10 minutes on March 20, 2022.

With this, she had become the world’s youngest and fastest female to swim across the Palk Strait.

Ms Rai was mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode on February 18, 2021, and her records have been registered in the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records.

She has also won medals in national and state open-water sea swimming championships.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Narendra Modi said he would always cherish fond memories of meetings with R. Sampanthan.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Leaders on both sides of the Palk Strait paid rich tributes to senior Sri Lankan Tamil leader R. Sampanthan, who passed away in Colombo on June 30.

In a message on the social platform ‘X’ on July 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he would always cherish fond memories of meetings with him. “He relentlessly pursued a life of peace, security, equality, justice and dignity for the Tamil nationals of Sri Lanka. He will be deeply missed by his friends and followers in Sri Lanka and India,” he said of Sampanthan, who was a long-time ally of India.

My deepest condolences to the family and friends of veteran TNA leader R. Sampanthan. Will always cherish fond memories of meetings with him. He relentlessly pursued a life of peace, security, equality, justice and dignity for the Tamil nationals of Sri Lanka. He will be deeply… pic.twitter.com/vMLPFaofyK

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 1, 2024

Rajavarothiam Sampanthan: Veteran Sri Lankan Tamil leader, long-time witness, key interlocutor, incurable optimist

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin termed his passing a “huge loss”, not only for the Tamil people in Sri Lanka but also the Tamil diaspora across the globe. “After the death of Ezhathanthai (iconic Sri Lankan Tamil leader S.J.V. Chelvanayakam) Selva and Navalar (late veteran leader Appapillai Amirthalingam) Amirthalingam, Sampanthan was a laudable leader in the Sri Lankan politics and no one can easily fill his place,” Mr. Stalin said in a statement, extending condolences to party colleagues and Tamil people in Sri Lanka on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu. In a two-page statement, Mr. Stalin recalled the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) leader’s peaceful ways of fighting for the rights of the Tamil people, and interest in protecting the Indo-Lanka relations.

Further, Mr. Stalin said Sampanthan was a friend of the late DMK leader and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and recalled their multiple meetings to discuss the welfare of the Sri Lankan Tamils.

Posting on ‘X’, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said: “I express my deepest condolences on the passing of R. Sampanthan. As a national leader, he worked tirelessly to bridge the divisions in our country. His loss will be mourned across the nation.”

I express my deepest condolences on the passing of Mr R. Sampanthan. As a national leader, he worked tirelessly to bridge the divisions in our country. His loss will be mourned across the nation.

— Ranil Wickremesinghe (@RW_UNP) July 1, 2024

State funeral

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government offered to hold a state funeral for Sampanthan, according to TNA spokesman and Jaffna legislator M.A. Sumanthiran. “We declined the offer, saying Sampanthan represented the Tamil people, and their sentiments must be respected. The government has subsequently said they will organise the funeral without military honours,” Mr. Sumanthiran told The Hindu. The funeral is expected to be held on Sunday in the eastern district of Trincomalee, Sampanthan’s constituency.   

Sri Lanka’s Leader of Opposition Sajith Premadasa said Sampanthan’s passing marks the “end of an era”. “Today, we mourn the loss of Sampanthan, who served Sri Lanka for over half a century. His dedication to equal rights for all Sri Lankans is a beacon of hope. His fair and just leadership will continue to inspire me and many others,” he said on ‘X’.

Today, we mourn the loss of Mr. Sampanthan, who served Sri Lanka for over half a century. His dedication to equal rights for all Sri Lankans is a beacon of hope. His fair and just leadership will continue to inspire me and many others. Truly, it is the end of an era. pic.twitter.com/MFu13ENAfc

— Sajith Premadasa (@sajithpremadasa) July 1, 2024

Retired Indian diplomat Ashok K. Kantha, who served as India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka from 2009 to 2013, called Sampanthan a “towering personality and voice of sanity and moderation”, in a social media post. Further, he recalled telling former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other Sri Lankan leaders that “they should resolve ethnic issues while Sampanthan was around”.

In a post on ‘X’, Mr. Rajapaksa said: “He was an old friend and colleague and we shared many a day discussing various issues.”

(With inputs from Tamil Nadu bureau)