Shikha Tandon
Encyclopedia
Shikha Tandon is a champion swimmer from Bangalore
, India. Tandon has won 146 national medals, and 36 medals in international competitions, including five gold medals.
at the age of 13, and her first World Championship at 16.
At the 2001 28th junior National aquatic championship, Tandon won the 200 m individual medley
, setting a new record.
In 2002, Tandon finished 8th in the 100 m freestyle event at the 100m freestyle at the Asian Games in Busan.
At the 57th Senior National Aquatic Championship in 2003, Tanden broke the Indian women's 50 freestyle record, with a time of 26.61 s. She won five individual gold medals in the competition, and was declared best swimmer for the third consecutive year.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics
, Tandon competed in both the 50 m and the 100 m freestyle
, the first Indian swimmer to qualify for two separate events in an Olympic competition.
In 2005, Shikha held seven national records, and was the first Indian woman to hold so many simultaneously. In 2005, she was honoured with an Arjuna Award
.
At the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Tandon reached the semi-finals of both 50 m backstroke and 50 m freestyle. In the same year, she became the first female Indian to win an international medal for a short-course event, taking bronze at the indoor Asian age-group swimming Championships in Bangkok.
In 2007 Tandon had surgery on her shoulder, and missed many of the season's events.
. Under advice from doctors, their mother took him swimming to improve his lung capacity, and Tandon joined them.
Her role models include Jenny Thompson
and Inge de Bruijn
.
Tandon attended Jain College, and then studied biotechnology at Bangalore University
.
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, India. Tandon has won 146 national medals, and 36 medals in international competitions, including five gold medals.
Career
When she was 12 years old, Tandon was spotted at a state meeting, and was selected to compete in two national events, and won a bronze medal. Tandon went on to compete in the Asian GamesAsian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
at the age of 13, and her first World Championship at 16.
At the 2001 28th junior National aquatic championship, Tandon won the 200 m individual medley
Medley swimming
Medley is a combination of four different swimming styles into one race. This race is either swum by one swimmer as individual medley or by four swimmers as a medley relay...
, setting a new record.
In 2002, Tandon finished 8th in the 100 m freestyle event at the 100m freestyle at the Asian Games in Busan.
At the 57th Senior National Aquatic Championship in 2003, Tanden broke the Indian women's 50 freestyle record, with a time of 26.61 s. She won five individual gold medals in the competition, and was declared best swimmer for the third consecutive year.
At the 2004 Athens Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, Tandon competed in both the 50 m and the 100 m freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
, the first Indian swimmer to qualify for two separate events in an Olympic competition.
In 2005, Shikha held seven national records, and was the first Indian woman to hold so many simultaneously. In 2005, she was honoured with an Arjuna Award
Arjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
.
At the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, Tandon reached the semi-finals of both 50 m backstroke and 50 m freestyle. In the same year, she became the first female Indian to win an international medal for a short-course event, taking bronze at the indoor Asian age-group swimming Championships in Bangkok.
In 2007 Tandon had surgery on her shoulder, and missed many of the season's events.
Personal life
Tandon has a younger brother called Shobhit, who suffered from asthmaAsthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
. Under advice from doctors, their mother took him swimming to improve his lung capacity, and Tandon joined them.
Her role models include Jenny Thompson
Jenny Thompson
Jennifer Beth Thompson is an American former competitive swimmer, and one of the most decorated Olympians in history, winning twelve medals, including eight gold medals , in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Summer Olympics.Thompson, a Massachusetts native who calls Dover, New Hampshire her...
and Inge de Bruijn
Inge de Bruijn
Inge de Bruijn is a Dutch former swimmer. She was a four-time Olympic champion and a former world record holder.-Biography:De Bruijn was born in Barendrecht, South Holland, and tried several sports before settling with swimming....
.
Tandon attended Jain College, and then studied biotechnology at Bangalore University
Bangalore University
Bangalore University is a public university located in Bangalore, Karnataka State, India. The university is one of the oldest in India, dating back to 1886...
.