Maharashtra skater keen on smashing records

At the age of 13, when most teenagers experience a change in their lifestyle, Maharshtra’s skater, Srishti Sharma is creating world records.

She holds the record for Limbo Skating in Guinness Book of Records and Ice Limbo Skating in Limca Book of Records. The young skater comes from a family, which has seen a change in fortune after these series of events within a span of just two years.

Srishti covered a distance of 10 metres gliding past 11 bars at a height of 33 centimetres from the ground when she had set her first record in 2015 which she hold in the Guinness Book of records. After that, the Umred girl came into limelight, and received a financial appreciation from Coal India of `5 lakh while Centre Point School of Nagpur provided her with 100 per cent scholarship. Her father Dharmendra Sharma who drives trucks for Western Coal Limited calls it “a change of fortune”.

As soon as she created a new record, the atmosphere became emotional. Her proud parents as well as the spectators burst into celebrations. Shristi started her campaign with 19 cm height in first attempt followed by 18 cm and 17cm. That was enough for the little girl to create the record. But the bold Srishti had different things in her mind and decided to go for 16.5 cm. which she completed effortlessly.

Setting the second record was a “risk”, as her father narrates, “We stayed in Gurgaon for over a month as it is the only place with an ice skating rink. To create a record, she needed a lot of hardwork and practice. While practicing, she succumbed to a few injuries and it was becoming riskier day by day. The trainers over there were not very aware about limbo skating but they kept telling us that limbo skating on ice is next to impossible because the boots cover your ankles to such an extent that it is impossible to bend. I started cutting her boots everyday to make it easier for her and by the final day, I had cut it by two inches. Her injury was troubling her on final day but I kept encouraging her and another inspiration for her was the victory of Sakshi Malik at the Olympics.”

The fearless girl made it to Limca Book of Records, Indian Records but missed out on The Guinness’ Record Book as they asked her to maintain a height of 20 centimetres. But due to her injury she could manage 30 centimetres. It is not a big deal for her as she believes she can achieve a better record in the future. “I am determined to create bigger records and I am practising hard for them. My father and mother have been encouraging me to reach bigger heights and I want live up to their expectations,” says Srishti.

Currently, the skater is taking part in state and national tournaments but she wants to pursue ice skating which is a problem for her as India does not have many rinks. “We spent a lot of money practising in Gurgaon and going there to practice is not easy. Right now, we will let Srishti decide her future, she is very young,” says Dharmendra who is still bowled over her child’s success.