At Just 7, This Indian Boy Created History… Swam 29 Kms Across The Open Sea In Record Time

Ishank Singh, a Class 3 student from Ranchi, created history by becoming the youngest swimmer in the world to swim across the Palk Strait. It doesn’t stop here. Ishank crossed the 29 km long stretch from Talaimannar (Sri Lanka) to Dhanushkodi (India) in a record time of 9 hours 50 minutes, despite it being one of the most challenging open-water routes due to unpredictable tides, strong currents, and unexpected weather.

Training

Ishank’s achievement is not because of mere luck; behind it lie months of hard work and discipline, and a strict training schedule, all of which are quite rare at his age. The 7-year-old used to practise rigorously for hours in the Dhurwa Dam in Ranchi.

Ishank reportedly used to train with his coaches, Aman Kumar Jaiswal and Bajrang Kumar, for almost 4 to 5 hours on a regular basis. This helped him build the physical and mental endurance to take on one of South Asia’s toughest sea crossings.

Early Childhood

Ishank’s mother, Manisha Sinha, fondly calls him a ‘water baby’ as he was irresistibly drawn to water from the age of 2. Whenever he saw a water body, be it a pond, tank, or dam, he would just dive in.

Fortunately, his parents soon realized that their son wasn’t just being playful around water—he loved being in it. Instead of steering him away, they cheered for him and supported him.

Big Day

Ishank dived into the water on April 30, 2026. He was initially escorted by the Sri Lankan Navy and, after 15 km, handed off to the Coast Guards from India. Every stroke was closely monitored. A dedicated team was present to analyse weather changes, ensure proper hydration, and watch for any unusual signs and fatigue.

At 1:50 PM, Ishank reached Arichalmunai near Dhanushkodiin just 9 hours and 50 minutes, breaking the previous record of 10 hours and 30 minutes set by Jay Jashwanth.

Ishank’s achievement has not only made Ranchi but the whole country proud and proved that when you are talented and hardworking, age is no barrier to success.