Jharkhand CM honours 7-year-old swimmer Ishank Singh for record Palk Strait feat

Ranchi: Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday met seven-year-old swimmer Ishank Singh at the Chief Minister’s residential office on Kanke Road and felicitated him for his historic achievement in long-distance swimming.

The Chief Minister honoured Ishank Singh with a cheque of ₹5 lakh, an angavastra and a memento, congratulating him for bringing national and international recognition to Jharkhand. He extended his best wishes for the young athlete’s bright future.

Ishank Singh, a resident of Ranchi, recently created a world record by swimming across the challenging Palk Strait (29 km) between India and Sri Lanka in 9 hours and 50 minutes on April 30, 2026. His achievement has earned him multiple accolades.

Appreciating his performance, the Chief Minister said the feat is a moment of pride for the entire state and reflects the determination and discipline of Jharkhand’s young athletes. He added that the state government is continuously working to promote sports talent through improved policies, training facilities and infrastructure.

He further said that efforts are being made to provide better platforms and modern facilities to emerging sportspersons so they can excel at national and international levels. The Chief Minister also expressed confidence that Ishank Singh will continue to bring glory to the state in future competitions.

During the interaction, the Chief Minister reviewed existing swimming facilities with sports department officials and directed them to prepare plans for expanding training infrastructure in the state.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also felicitated Ishank’s parents and coach. The event was attended by Tourism, Art-Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Sudivya Kumar, Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar, Sports Secretary Mukesh Kumar, Sports Director Asif Ikram and other officials.