Maana Patel, a promising athlete became the first Indian female swimmer to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Friday, July 2. She has confirmed her place in the Olympics through the ‘University quota.’
“Representing India at the Olympics is the greatest feeling ever and it will be thrilling to perform with the top-level athletes there. I have started prepping for the same,” said Indian swimmer, Maana Patel.
The 21-years-old is the third Indian swimmer to qualify in Tokyo 2020 Olympics. She will be joining Sajjan Prakash and Srihari Natarajan in India’s swimming squad for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which will be held from July 23 to August 8.
Maana will take part in the women's 100m backstroke event, meanwhile, Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj will compete in the 200m butterfly and 100m backstrokes, respectively. Last month, both had achieved the Olympic A mark at the Sette Colli Trophy in Rome.
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Expressing her excitement about the Tokyo Olympics, Ms. Patel said, “It's an amazing feeling. I have heard about the Olympics from fellow swimmers and watched it on the television and seen a lot of pictures. But to be there this time, competing with the best in the world, just gives me goosebumps.”
The skilled swimmer has just made comeback this year as she has sustained an ankle injury in 2019. “It was a tough year to come back after the injury,” Maana recalled.
“Though the pandemic and the lockdown was a blessing in disguise as it helped me recuperate well, then later the frustration crept in. I am not used to staying away from the water for this long,” she added.