A six-year-old boy from Pune has set a record by becoming the youngest mountaineer from Maharashtra to reach the Mount Everest base camp, proving that one should never limit one’s dreams. The student of Class 1, Advait Bhartiya reached the base camp on November 3 after a 13-day long expedition. The base camp is located in northeast Nepal, 17,593 feet above the sea level. Advait is also the youngest Indian to reach the spot in winter. He was accompanied by his mother Payal Bhartiya, an avid trekker herself. She answers for us:-

1. How did this journey for Advait began? Was it a chance?

Initially, I had planned to go to the base camp alone but Advait insisted on joining me. I told him that he could join if he managed to train and prepare for it. For the next month, his training included climbing 100 floors daily.

2. Being a mountaineer yourself what do you think about this journey of Advait?

For an adult, this is usually an incredible feat, with not just the mountain trails to deal with but also the thin air, reduction in atmospheric oxygen and subzero temperatures dropping to about 8 to -12 degrees C at times. But for young adventurers of this age, this truly a surreal achievement.

3. Is he involved in any other activity apart from mountaineering?

He is actively involved in other sports like football, swimming, martial arts and plays multiple musical instruments like violin, piano, and table. He speaks multiple foreign languages and youngest certified child to write Mandarin.

ALSO READ : India’s Youngest Archer, 5 year old Cherukuri Dolly Shivani Has Two World Records In Archery

4. As far as you can remember what was the most heart enduring moment for Advait?

The thing that Advait enjoyed the most was that he was able to do something so tough, so he felt a sense of accomplishment. While he was there, he commented that you can’t capture this beauty in a camera. His favorite moment was when once he was answering nature’s call and he actually looked up to find a Himalayan barking deer over his head, so he felt very very excited and I think its left a permanent indelible mark in his head.

5. What was the toughest memory of Advait’s climb to the base camp?

The thing that Advait found toughest was the breathing part, because as adults we know to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth but Advait had it tough. He was left panting often. He had to learn how to breathe in through his nose and out through his mouth. Then at night, sometimes he would feel suffocated but he had the maturity to sit up and stay calm, and take deep breaths. He also used to feel very thirsty at night. And I think on the seventh or the eight day I told him not to wake me up and he picked up his mug and put it to his mouth in the middle of the night and he realized there is no water coming. He touched it and it had frozen. So then he held it inside his sleeping bag and waited till it melted and then he had it. So that was very mature on his part to have done that.

6. What has Advait and the family planned next to conquer?

Advait has long-term plans to return to Everest and attempt the climb to the summit. In the meantime, he has set his sights on the only slightly less ambitious targets of summiting Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and Mt Elbrus in Russia.

The post Advait Bhartiya, Youngest To Scale Mount Everest Base Camp! appeared first on Student Stories.

“IF you see me anywhere come say Hi, I love meeting new people”

Meet Haresshvar Sakthivelu ,  Mr Tamil Nadu 2017 and a Fitness Model . He is a happy go lucky guy, who loves to laugh, be at peace and prefers zero drama. And he  loves DOGS, CATS , all animals in general.

He has lost 10 kgs in a month . He has lost 55 kgs in 6 months . Can you believe it ?

If you want fitness tips, this is the story you should read and learn how he achieved his dreams. He believes that whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.

Let us go straight to Haresshvar who shares his secrets of body-building !

How was your experience being Mr Tamil Nadu in 2017 ?  What changes has the experience bought in your life?

It was the first time for me to be on stage in a state level bodybuilding show. I had done a few shows previously but they were smaller ones. I had a months time between Mr Tamil Nadu and the show before that. I had not placed as expected in the previous competition ,so the month leading up to Mr Tamil Nadu was very intense with workout sessions going upto 6 hours a day.All this preparation and hard work in anticipation of bagging the gold, inevitably made me a little nervous .But once I got to the show and gave my weight , I was a bit more calm and composed. And I was getting more into the right mindset as time passed.I was placed top 5 in the selections , and it gave me peace of mind and also an idea about how my competition was. the rest of the day was spent in full focus on trying to do some last minute conditioning manipulations with water and carb loading to try and gain the edge.And then it was time for the show, I was busy applying tan and pumping when the call came for my category. I was calm as I approached the stage , I kept a very focused state of mind, stood at the designated spot.I took notice of how the lights were placed , where the judges were sitting and how my competition on stage was. I closed my eyes made a mental picture and came up with a plan according to what I discussed with my coach . I adjusted my stance and angle so that the lighting was more favourable and it would give me an edge in the view of the judges.I gave it my best to flex every fiber and muscle I had as each and every pose was called, I didn’t take any chances , nor did I experiment. I stood with what I practiced and hit each pose methodologically and as I was taught.After that when I was standing on stage waiting for the judges announcement , my heart was racing , it was the moment that would decide the 6 year journey I’ve been through. The extreme 30 days of diet and workout ,  the years of hitting the gym day in and day out , of not socializing, of not eating my favourite foods, all of its fruits would be judged this moment.  After the second place was announced , was when I realized I won GOLD. And when they announced my name it was dream come true, The sweet fruit  borne of hard labour and years of work.It was a moment I will never forget , and its thanks to my coach Biglee Murali. Winning this Changed my life, I was doing this as a passion as a hobby till then, just to prove to everyone who ever made fun of my body, that I could achieve whatever I wanted to.But winning such a prestigious title , gave me the confidence to step it up,. To actually start writing and sharing my experience and tips with people on social media.Fitness has become an even more core aspect of my life now, and it has become a viable career for me. It has helped me gain confidence that I can go higher and now I am working hard towards winning the next big title and taking my game to the next level.

Talk us through some of your biggest achievements to date. Why were these memorable to you, and how did you achieve them?

My first achievement was loosing 10kgs in a month. I had tried for nearly 3 years to loose weight without any success. But when I started to study in a hostel during my 12^th , that’s when I started to hit the gym everyday and started to diet as well. I had no guidance , all I had was the various magazines in the school library about bodybuilding and fitness, I used to follow the various workouts given in them and just basically do whatever I could to loose weight. And when I lost 10kgs that’s when people started to take notice of me and appreciate that I’ve slimmed down. My second achievement is taking a pushup. A single pushup. During the time I was trying to loose weight in the hostel , the fellow students would always say that pushups were the best exercise that one could do. But when ever I tried to do it , all I would achieve was to lie down on the floor flat. I had my friends tie a towel around me and in my hostel room every night after the warden slept, at around 12 , they would help me to try and do pushups. I would lift a few inches and then they would pull me up a bit and help me complete the rep. this went on for a few weeks and one day during my regular night sessions I lay down and tried to do a pushup , and to everyone’s surprise , I was able to do it perfectly without help. My 3^rd one would be sticking to my weight loss journey and loosing 55kgs in around 6 months. People would barely be able to recognize me , and my relatives have even looked at me and went by without saying a word to me because they didn’t know that it was me. This was the first time in my life that I actually became interested in buying clothes. My 4^th achievement would be that I stopped listening to bullshit that my local trainers said and started to learn things for myself through articles, books, research papers etc. It is what has led me to successfully transform not only myself but also so many other people.My 5^th achievement would be getting on stage for the first time at Mr.Chennai 2017. From being an obese kid who never left his house to being someone who placed 5^th at Mr. Chennai. it was a major milestone. My 6th and most recent one would be Winning Mr TAMIL NADU , after nearly 11 months of intense training and dieting under the guidance of my coach Mr Biglee Murali.

Judging by your popularity, you have a physique that is in demand. How do you work on improving it? Describe your current training program.

Right now my goal is to become more conditioned , in bodybuilding there is always room for improvement. Right now I’m trying to increase the muscle I have in right proportions around my torso and also increase the dryness and conditioning of my legs. Even though many people may see my body as perfect , I am the one who knows it best including its flaws. My goal is to slowly work towards improving on them and become ever closer to the illusive goal of perfection.My current training program is a mix of High Volume and High intensity work for muscles combined with an intense hour of cardio to help with the conditioning , I am getting ready for a few major contests that are happening in March and June this year. Fingers crossed.

The fact you trained through all this pain is inspirational. Do you consider yourself strong-minded? How does this mindset influence your life?

I was one of the laziest persons you could see. Though I’ve always had the character to do something no matter whatever it takes when I fix my mind on it , I rarely used to fix my mind on anything. I used to prefer a peaceful life away from any kind of discomfort.

But as I progressed in my journey , I understood that  the mental discipline it takes to not eat tasty foods when someone is eating it by your side and offers you some , or when relatives come over during festivals and ask you eat sweets is huge.Situations where the mind used to come up with excuses to avoid gym or to eat junk were many in the beginning and I used to suffer from a lot of sweet cravings too. But every time these thoughts came up all I would do was to remember why I started and how much I had progressed. I started all this to prove to everyone who bullied and insulted me during my entire childhood for my obesity that I too can build a fit body. So the thought of gaining weight again and having to face all those people kept me going and kept the fire in my heart raging.

All this has helped me mold my mind and heart. I no longer am tempted when people come up and shake a piece of pastry in front of me or when I am tired and don’t want to go to gym. I understand my mind better , so whenever it plays tricks on me I know that its only a trick and I shouldn’t be fooled by it.

For me now eating healthy and working out is my lifestyle. I changed my lifestyle to change my body. So , yes I do feel that the mindset and the way we see the tiny victories , the failures , the slip ups influence the success of any fitness journey.

Motivational speaking is becoming big. What messages would you hope to impart to your audience?

I started this page with one aim, that is to share my story and give hope to those like me that if I could do it then they too could.

I know how hard it is to be shamed because of your body , or be rejected cos your fat. My message is stop whining , stop complaining , giving excuses or saying bull shit like Its in my genes , its my situation , I’ve tried but I never can.

NO EXCUSES EVER.

They will never get you to your goal. You have been given a body by god, and that is the body you have ,so is the life that you have a result of the choices you have made.

Every choice counts, and you live this life only once. Make it such that its an interesting one. If you want something you are the only one that can make it happen. You have a functioning brain , use it.  Learn about stuff you don’t know, ask questions, reach out to other people like you. Put in the effort , do whatever it takes, focus on what can be done instead of the things that cant be changed.

Someone might be able to eat junk and still be thin.

Guess what your not that someone, stop comparing your body or situations with that of others. Focus on what you have and come up with a solution to make the changes to your life that will get you to your goal.

You are YOU. Do What YOU need. FOCUS ON YOU. You will succeed.

Also read “ He Decided To Build A Scene In The City So That The Art Will Spread And There Will Be More Comics In The City – Meet The Stand Up Comedian Of Nagpur Komedians , Yash Choudhary!”

If you were in the Mr Tamil Nadu contest would you give yourself the award and because of what qualities?

Tricky question. I would give the award to the best physique on stage. Whom ever it maybe. As for qualities its simple, the  body will reflect all that we have done , so the one with the best body deserves it.

In bodybuilding do you think most of the pros get along and do you see pro bodybuilding like one big family? Or do you see a lot of bad blood in the sport of bodybuilding among the pros?

Most pros on the international stage do get along, its one of those rare sports where even today the spirit of sportsmanship is still seen on stage. But the same cannot be said for our local level bodybuilders or shows. We have a long long way to go, The situation is complex as ever, and there are a few feuds at the top, but at the end of the day the pros respect one another and know how much work it takes to get on stage.

Meet Haresshvar on Instagram

The post He Has Won The Mr Tamil Nadu Award 2017 ! Meet The Big Man And Fitness Model-Haresshvar Sakthivelu appeared first on Student Stories.

Cherukuri Dolly Shivani was in her mother’s womb when it was decided that she will be an archer. The young archer from Andhra Pradesh comes from a family of archers.  At a time when other kids her age were learning to speak and walk, she had a bow and an arrow in her hands and was taking her family legacy forward. Two years back, she became the youngest Indian to score more than 200 points, and a few days back, five-year-old Dolly entered the India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records. Speaking to her parents we received a few answers from their private lives and how Dolly’s journey began:-

1. When did you decide or Dolly decide to take up Archery instead of dolls at her age?

When we came to know that the baby was on her way we decided to mold her as an archer. The preparation was on while she was in the womb itself. When Shivani was born on April 2, 2012, she arrived amidst the bows and arrows. Her 35-month journey so far has always been with archery. Literally, she speaks, dreams, eats archery and mingles with senior archers.

2. How do you feel today when at the age of 5 your daughter is a record holder?

Today, we are very proud to see our kid making such grand advancements. We hope that by the grace of God, she will scale greater heights. She is now completely firm and professional, and listens to each and every suggestion, either from me or from her coach Chandrasekar, with full concentration.

“Standing at a distance of 10 metres, Shivani shot as many as 103 arrows in 11 minutes and 19 seconds. After a break of 30 minutes, she drew 36 arrows from 20 metres, taking five minutes and eight seconds to do so. Out of a possible 360 points, Shivani managed an impressive 290.”

ALSO READ: Fareeha Tafim,14 Year Old, Indian “Wushu” Warrior, Taking Women Safety To Next Level.

3. How do you as a father see that a girl is taking up a road less traveled by due to the stereotypical notions?

Dolly was in her surrogate mother’s womb when I bought 30 tiny carbides bows designed and made in Poland. Even before she turned three, Dolly started carrying her bow-stand on her own and warming up with many disciplines; sometimes better than the senior archers. Therefore, I strongly believe that gender has nothing do with the sport you take up. I can’t express in words how happy my family is.

4. What are the two records that Dolly holds proudly at such a tender age?

Just five-years-old, my daughter set not one but two records in archery to enter the India Book of Records and the Asian Book of Records. She fired 103 arrows at a target 10 meters away in just 11 minutes and 19 seconds. For her second attempt, Shivani fired 36 arrows at a target from a distance of 20 meters in a record time of five minutes and eight seconds. She scored an impressive 290 points out of 360. She is now gearing up for the 2024 Olympics. She currently trains at The Volga Archery Academy in Vijayawada.

5. What do you hope for Dolly’s future?

Performance of Dolly was outstanding and an archer in her teenage cannot do the feet done by her It was difficult to score 250 in 20 meters event and she easily achieved it. It was a big challenge for her in this age. Dolly will be 13 when the 2024 Olympics will be held. Our target is to prepare her for the grand sporting show and we need a top class coach to teach her the advanced techniques. I want Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu to take note of the request and do the needful. We are all very proud of her. We are very impressed.

The post India’s Youngest Archer, 5 year old Cherukuri Dolly Shivani Has Two World Records In Archery appeared first on Student Stories.

Fourteen-year-old Fareeha Tafim grew up with a lot of dreams. However, for the girl born in a conservative Muslim household, having dreams meant building castles in the air. But Fareeha’s story deserves to be written as it is about defying all norms with sheer determination and going at patriarchy with a Wushu sword. Fareeha Tafim is a well-known name now in the martial arts circles. Having won both national and international championships, she has defied many odds to make a place for herself in martial arts.

1. What is “Wushu” for you Fareeha?

Wushu, a form of martial arts that originated in China in the 1940s, was brought to the school to teach self-defense to the girls to protect themselves from the gender-based violence that is constantly on the rise. After learning it for three years, I got very good at it and there was hardly anyone in the state who could beat me. I eventually went on to become the state champion in 2016. Despite covering myself with a veil every time I do Wushu, for me, Wushu-ing is the ultimate form of liberation.

2. What was the initial struggle you had to undergo in your desire to learn this self-defense mechanism?

It was one thing to learn Wushu as self-defense and fight girls in the school, but neither my family nor my community approved of my traveling all the way to Assam for the national championship. My mother believed that by doing this I would bring dishonor to the family. Following are the words she said, “If you show your face you will be called shameless because you will be performing in front of thousands of people”.

“Fareeha is the subject of London-based filmmaker Jayisha Patel’s documentary India’s Wushu Warrior Girl. “

3. Who was your biggest support on your this journey of becoming a national champion?

Though the entire family was against me, it was my father who supported me vehemently. He was an illiterate who grew up living on the streets; hence, he wanted his child to have a chance at anything that could make me independent irrespective of my gender. With him by my side, the rest of the family had to eventually give in, albeit halfheartedly. Against all odds, I want to become a police officer so that I can protect young girls like me.

ALSO READ : 100 Scuba Dives Checked Out From Bucket List! Here’s The Enthralling Underwater Experience Of Dheeraj M Nanda!

4. What was the reaction of your mother when you won National Championship?

My mother, who was unwilling to let me pursue martial arts, was very happy that I won the competition. My mother was not willing to send me because she was concerned about my safety. I am sure many young girls will now go for it as it kind of breaks the taboo around it. I look up to Mary Kom for inspiration and would want to spread the sport as much as I can.

5. What is your training routine? Do you get time after school?

I practice for three hours every day in the morning. It was my coach Wahaj who has trained me from sixth grade. I say that he is very supportive and always encouraged me to get better at it. He also says that I am one girl who has got great potential, has all the qualities to be a great fighter. Apart from this, I want to drive a gear bike, it is just a dream.

The post Fareeha Tafim,14 Year Old, Indian “Wushu” Warrior, Taking Women Safety To Next Level. appeared first on Student Stories.

Meet the Mr India 2014 finalist Gurfateh Pirzada who has also represented Haryana in district level Cricket and is currently shooting his first international film to be premiered at Cannes this year . He is originally from Chandigarh but raised in New Delhi. He finished his schooling from Pathways World School, Delhi with an International Baccalaureate Diploma. He is an aspiring model and actor with travel interests. A social bird inclined to reach each corner of the world. A fitness freak and a complete Go- Getter. Focused, Determined, Committed.

Let us meet Gurfateh who shares all his experiences with us !

How was your experience being Mr India finalist in 2014 ?  What changes has the experience bought in your life?

Well, the time I had participated in Mr. India I had just moved to Bombay, had only been a few weeks. I had never even thought that I’ll make it that far as I was so clueless about the industry and also the youngest one there in the entire contest. But obviously it turned out to be a really good experience, also helped me settle in, figure the way the industry works. More than anything else all that experience and grooming for an 18 year old boy right out of school was life changing.

What were the initial days’ struggle? How did you cope up with the things coming your way?

I wouldn’t really call the beginning a struggle, at the end of the day everything is a learning experience, and to get somewhere to make a difference you have to cross a few stages of difficulty; or I should say its the prep for that final result. If anything bad would happen or if I’d start feeling low I would also tell myself that my success story is being written haha (And why the hell not) Its all about being positive!

To be an established actor you need to be able to measure your success and build on that. How do you evaluate success within your role?

I don’t think you can ever be content in your life or this career for that matter. Atleast I can’t, for me it is always about the next thing. if i’ve achieved something, i let it seep in, enjoy that certain feeling and then look for the next best thing…the mind is often clouded by the question of what’s next and i wouldn’t want to change that. I don’t think I’ll ever be successful enough…atleast not yet; but as long as I’m growing and better than what I was yesterday, i’d be in a good place. For me success is about being happy and i think i can achieve that without being content within my role. And I think it’s safe to say that I’m in a great place in life as a 22 year old; alot to look forward to and a lot to learn.

Also read ” Photography Is The Story He Fails To Put Into Words – Meet The Sensational Photographer, Shivam Bapat “

Talk us through some of your biggest achievements to date. Why were these memorable to you, and how did you achieve them?

Top of the line would be overcoming all my fears and bringing myself to the stage. Being an introverted person, I never really planned my life to go this way, I might have thought about the idea of being on the screen while watching films back in my childhood, but the idea of doing something in front of so many people while everyone’s eyes are on you, was kind of a far fetched task for that kid who would go under the bed even if someone was visiting his home and he knew that there will be some socialising required.

Now when I look back that kid has come a long long way…and is all set to conquer everything else the future holds. So you shall see a lot more of me very soon! A lot more achievements will be added to the list, so we’ll leave that for another time!

 In this industry success is not guaranteed, failures are inevitable. How do you cope up with these failures and what challenges does it bring in your path of becoming a successful actor?

I personally think success is not guaranteed in any industry, not just this one. It only just depends on how bad you want it, and also most important thing is to plan out your journey and to be positive through out. The minute you doubt yourself, the world will start doubting you.

And at the same time its really important to train as an actor, so instead of sitting at home in your free time…. go out there, meet people; work on your craft. Vanity can take you only so far; eventually its your acting that’ll take you a long way.

What is your upcoming film about ? And why do you think your role suits you and your personality?

I can’t really talk much about that. All I can say is that I really loved the script and wanted to be a part of it. About the character, its not at all like me, different in alot of ways , but as an actor you kinda find a way to connect yourself to the character; and that’s exactly what I tried to do. Its mostly for the international festivals and will Premiere at Cannes; so hoping it does good things for me!

What are the major things you consider while taking up a role ?

I think I’m at the very beginning of my acting career, so I would always want to do something that prolongs my career, displays what I can bring to the screen and hopefully people would like that. There are alot of good stories coming up, a lot of experimental cinema and obviously the commercial films too.

Eventually when I look at a script; I always think about the film from the viewers perspective..and eventually every film caters to a different set of audiences. ideally I would love to do it all; I have the time by my side and there is a world of opportunities out there.

Now since you were a district level cricketer what changes do you think the Haryana Cricket association needs to be able to compete better in the national level and make a mark ?

I played cricket long back, I must’ve been 16 when I stopped playing. The time I reached the district level I was 14, so times have changed alot since then and I think there is an ample amount of facilities and opportunities for aspiring cricketers and we are already making a mark globally, We have got one of the best teams. But I hope in the future all the other sports are given equal importance as well. With the right amount of support we can find a gold medal in each and every nook and corner of our country.

 Your message to youngsters who want be either actors or cricketers !

I think the best message I can give out to everyone is to follow your dreams. I was lucky enough to have my family support in my decision of wanting to be an actor and that helped immensely.

So if you have a dream, go for it. But at the same time make sure you work hard and be better than anyone else out there, Don’t leave any stone unturned.

Meet Gurfateh on Facebook 

Meet Gurfateh on Instagram

The post Meet The Social Bird, Fitness Freak And The Face Of Elegance Who Is Inclined To Reach Each Corner Of The World , Gurfateh Pirzada appeared first on Student Stories.

A sportsperson like Nivethan Radhakrishnan is a rarity in modern-day sport. While there is never a shortage of players gifted in one way or another, Nivethan stands far apart. At the tender age of 14, Nivethan made a debut in Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). Nivethan, a bowler who bowls left-arm orthodox, is an ambidextrous player he is equally comfortable bowling right-arm pace, off-spin, along with being an opening batsman.

1. How did your amazing career start and when?

My recognition in this game began around in 2011 when I took a hat-trick in a fourth division league game in the state, I kept playing in Australia when my father moved there in 2012 for personal reasons. I kept on scoring runs and taking wickets, impressing Aussie legends Greg Chappell, Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh with a knock of 193 for New South Wales. But, India was in my heart, I came back and attended a trial with Kaalai after playing TNCA lower division league and got the management’s confidence, who then went about getting me in their squad.

2. Which Cricketer do you admire and what is the technique of the player you love the most?

I love Sachin’s (Tendulkar) technique. But I want to emulate what Sir Garry did as a complete all-rounder. I love the West Indies team of his era. I have read almost 16 of his books and my game revolves around most of the techniques that I have read or learned through the videos I have watched of his. Right from a young age, I have been unorthodox be it batting or bowling. Having the benefit of using both hands, and bat well, the great Sir Garfield Sobers is one of my other inspiration; someone who himself used to bowl left-arm orthodox, Chinaman and medium-fast when required.

3. How did the Cricketer within you evolve?

I don’t know what to say. Even before I started walking, I used to hold my father’s cricket bat. I liked this sport a lot when I was a kid and didn’t like watching TV. So, I had to play with what was around me and the only thing I found was my father’s cricket kit. As I grew up, I used to see my father and gained a lot of interest in cricket. No one forced me to take up the game. He taught me the basics and I started playing by myself.

4. Did you train yourself to use both the hands (following Sobers) or is it natural?

Basically, the right has been my natural arm since my childhood. But, when it comes to cricket, I am ambidextrous. I started bowling right-arm off-spin and learned the art of bowling with my left hand as I continued playing. To be honest, I can close my eyes and bowl with both arms without any difficulties. Sobers has nothing to do with me bowling with both my hands. I started bowling with my left hand even before I became a fan of Sobers. In fact, I started bowling with my left hand when I was six. I wanted something to separate me from the other players. I tried this in the nets and it came out well.

5. You have played cricket in two leading nations for this support. How would you analyze your experience?

When I started playing cricket in Chennai, it became a routine for me. But, when I went to Australia things were completely different. The people, the way they play the sport, the conditions, everything was new to me. It was a bit difficult for me to adapt, but my passion for the game, along with the hours I put in, made me overcome the hurdle. Now, I am used to playing in all the conditions. I have set my mindset in such a way that it is easier for me to play the game irrespective of the conditions.

6. How are your studies and sports are managed together? What is the reaction of your parents?

My parents back me in whatever I do. My mom has always supported me when it comes to studies. My dad used to tell me that if I don’t concentrate on studies, he won’t allow me to play cricket. So, studies have always been my priority. I know whenever I study well, I will play cricket. More than my father, my mother wants me to excel in cricket. My father rarely inquires about my studies and my mother won’t do that too.

7. What led to your decision of coming back to India from Australia?

Last season, I had come to India during the off-season (Australian winter). Once my vacation was over, I went back to Australia and did really well. So, I decided to come back to India again and give a trial with the Karaikudi franchise. I was not sure about getting picked in the trial and in spite of that, I gave one before heading back to Australia. When I got to know that I was picked in the TNPL draft, I was very happy and flew back to India again just in time for the tournament.

The post Nivethan Radhakrishnan, A Rarity In Modern-Day Sport At The Age Of 14 ! appeared first on Student Stories.

” The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. “

The ocean stirs the heart, opens the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul. A man cannot discover the new oceans unless he has the courage to lose the sight of the shore. He who searches for the pearls must dive below. From the birth, man carries the weight of gravity on his shoulders and he is bolted to the earth. But man has only to sink beneath the sea, and he is free. Diving is an investment of time and money, but the rewards can be life changing, literally.

In talks with Dheeraj M Nanda:

1) Hey! Dheeraj, it’s awesome to talk to you. Tell us about yourself

Hi!, I am Dheeraj M Nanda, studying 2nd year PUC in MVJ PU College. I have a keen interest towards nature photography, diving and cycling.

2) Tell us about your passion for photography ?

I was exposed to photography at a very young age. My brother, a photographer inspired me to take a camera and capture the essence of nature. My father, tagged me along all his journeys which enabled me to capture great pictures from landscape to macro and all the way into under water world.

3) How and when did you develop interest towards under water photography ?

I was inspired by all the insights and documentaries broadcast-ed by NatGeo and Discovery. It has been 4 years since I started diving. Being a photographer, it was quite natural to take cameras under water and capture what the under water ecosystem has to offer. Moreover this was not a thing which lot of people did and this made me select it as my main genre for photography.

4) Share with us the feeling of having completed 100 scuba dives

It feels great after every dive I complete and to have completed 100 scuba dives before turning 18 was a goal for me. I feel privileged to have crossed that number on my dive log.

5) What kind of challenges do you face in under water photography ?

The most common challenge is not being able to recognize a creature as we cannot fathom that something like that exists and they are of extremely small sizes ranging in millimetres. Other technical challenges are lighting and positioning of strobe lights which I overcame by experimentation.

Also Read: Poetry That Leaves You Mesmerised! Meet Cipun Mishra Who’s Painting The World Red With His Wonderful Poetry !

6) Highlight on the gear you use in different terrains

I use an all Canon kit, Canon EOS 7D with a nauti cam housing, 100 mm macro lens underwater, mainly to capture macro creatures or a 15 mm fish-eye lens to capture wide angle. On land, I use a  Canon 100-400 IS II to capture wildlife.

7) What is that one source of inspiration that keeps you moving ?

A big source of inspiration are my parents and my brother who constantly encourage me and always guide me to the new adventures to embark on.

You can contact Dheeraj M Nanda:

Dheeraj M Nanda Facebook

The post 100 Scuba Dives Checked Out From Bucket List! Here’s The Enthralling Underwater Experience Of Dheeraj M Nanda! appeared first on Student Stories.

Aryaman Singh picked up his first set of golf clubs at the age of 3. His foray into competitive golf began at the age of 5, when he competed at the Poona Club Tournament in the under-9 age category and won it three successive times.

At the age of 6, he began competing in the Indian Golf Union sanctioned West Zone Tournament however his first win on the tour came at the age of seven in 2014. Same year, the young Pune golfer also bagged the Indian Golf Union – West Zone ‘Order of Merit’ in 2014 in his age category. A feat he repeated in 2015 and 2016 with the distinction of winning every tournament he participated in over these three years !

In 2013, he became the youngest Indian to qualify and represent India at the Callaway Junior World Championship in San Diego, California, and the US kid World Golf Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

In a conversation with Aryaman :

1)Aryaman, how did you start playing Golf and from when are you practicing it?

2)At such an early age, you have a winning streak of 1,266 which is the longest in the history of junior Golf in India. How did you manage to achieve it?

3)Aryaman, how do you manage your studies with the game? Does the game effect your studies?

4)When and where did you play your first game? What was your experience over there?

 

ALSO READ: “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going.” – Labdhi Surana, The Little Skating Player Who Is Making India Proud

5)You also have represented India in two most prestigious junior Golf championships. Share your experience being a part of those championships?

 

7)Whom would you give the credits to for who you are today?

 Connect: 

 Aryaman on Facebook

The post Meet Aryaman Singh, The Child Prodigy Breaking National Records At the Age of 10 appeared first on Student Stories.

Labdhi from Udaipur, Rajasthan has proved this right and her determination and never-give-up attitude has made her a winner. Labdhi Surana, student of Grade-2, Rockwoods High School, has been awarded with Rashtrapati Award by honourable president of India Mr Ramnath Kovind on Children’s Day.

Congratulations Labdhi on this marvelous achievement. You truly deserve this award.

In conversation with Labdhi Surana-

1. How do you feel on being awarded by our President on children’s day?

I had never thought that I will get such an award at a young age and that too by the first man of our country. I felt really proud and happy to receive the award.

2. What were the struggles you faced while you were preparing for your tournaments?

It was quite difficult for me to manage studies and sports at the same time. I used to start my day by 5 am in the morning when everyone was sleeping. My practice was a must be it too cold or too hot.

3. How do you feel on representing  your country in enlinged  speed skating abroad and also making your country proud ?

My first love is medals. My mom always taught me to do races like there’s no tomorrow. I felt really proud when I represented Team INDIA and got laurels to my city and nation.

4. How does your family take your success?

My mom and my dad are my biggest strength , without them I could not have reached this level. They worked hard for me, than I did. They feel really proud on being recognised by others as Labdhi’s parents.

5. How do you feel on becoming successful at the age of 7?

Seven is a very young age, still I have a lot  to learn.  My targets are world championships and youth Olympics and what I know is Olympians are not made in a day so I have to really focus on some big targets in near future. 

ALSO READ: Ayesha Noor : International Karate Champion Fought Epilepsy, Poverty, Gender & Racial Biases With Her Karate Skills

6. How is your preparation going on for the next tournament that you are about to play ?

I have RSSFI states coming up along with inter schools Europa cup. Nothing can be achieved without hardwork and dedication so I am focused on these big tournaments.

7. What is your message to the kids of today’s generation who wish to be successful like you at a young age ?

Every child has its own talent. Its the responsibility of a parent to get their child’s talent showcast and in whatever field their kids are , the most important thing is discipline , dedication and self belief

The post    “When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going.” – Labdhi Surana, The Little Skating Player Who Is Making India Proud appeared first on Student Stories.

Tanay Malhara, 15-year-old teenager from Jalgaon, Mumbai who conquered The Dance Plus Season 2,a dance reality show on Star Plus. The show was judged by Remo D’Souza as Super Judge and Dharmesh, Shakti Mohan, Punit Pathak as Mentors. The young dancer Tanay was mentored by Dharmesh Sir. Furthermore, Tanay is not only a dancer but also an actor and a brilliant Yoga student. He lives in his own world of dance which he has created around himself.

The achievements of Tanay Malhara in different fields:-

1. Winner of ‘Dance Plus – Season 2’ a reality show on Star Plus channel – 2016.
2. Participated in ‘International Cultural Meet’, China – 2015.
3. Amongst top 7 at ‘DID Li’l Master’ a reality show on ZEE TV -2013.
4. Awarded as a ‘Dancer of the season’- 2014.
5. Gold medals and 1 bronze medal at 7th Asian Yoga Sports Championship, Singapore
6. National Gold medalist of Rhythmic Yoga – 2016.
7. Tanay Malhara at TEDx : Writing your own story | Tanay Malhara | TEDxNMIMSShirpur

In Conversation with Tanay-

Q1. Dancing is a hobby for many but very few can reach heights in dancing as you did. How did you manage to get this success?

This is not the success for me. I have many more dreams and when I fulfill all of them then only I will call myself successful. I have heard success is just a state of mind, so we all can be successful just we have to believe in it. About managing to get the success I follow these commands First, I love working hard and practicing more than everybody. Second, a 10 year’s hard work’s fruit, third is, parents support n teachers motivation and the last one is, lovely people of my area, supportive and there are 1000’s of more reason to get this what I have got.

Q2. At what age did you start pursuing your career in dance?

Actually, my parents sent me to dance class for a competition, so I went n learned when I was at the age of 5 years.

Q3. Did you always want to be a dancer or had any other desires too?

I am still 15 years old now I have started getting dreams or I would call, now I m starting to know myself better and I have other dreams which I want to experience. I never thought because at the age of 5 what will I think except playing or anything else, even I did not know the full form of DID in which I was till top 7 and whatever I start doing I develop the interest in it and I want to learn more.

 

ALSO READ: The Young Rock Star Who Is Stealing Millions Of Hearts With His Catchy Performances ! Meet The Actor, Host And The Celebrity Star- Prit Kamani ! 

Q4. What message are you willing to give to our readers who have the same ambitions as yours?

I too have many more ambitions so we are on the same track. The best way to reach them is through self-experience. No one else will help you or will have the same story as yours so go out and don’t wait for perfect time. This is it… this is your time go and live it.  I m living and I guess you are, too!!

Q5. How do you feel about Winning “Dance plus Season 2” at such a young age?

First of all, I still have no idea how I won it and still I don’t know it’s worth.

Q6. Whom do you consider your role model?

I do not consider anyone my role model. I have many things which many don’t and I know how much I can push. So I think I am my own role model.

Q7. What are your hobbies and what do you prefer doing the most when you are free?

I love watching movies, listening to soothing music and read a book which I like (That’s my fav. ), meditation.

Q8. Tanay, where do you see yourself in future?

I see myself in future doing whatever I like or get a kick in. What it is, I don’t have any idea.

Q9. What can you advise to those people who would like to be a model?

Like modeling? Ok, so then I would say, You are worth it. Do not give up or believe what others say, You are very beautiful/handsome. Wear your smile and confidence and rock it. You rock and no one knows what you can actually do.

Connect with Tanay on his :

Website

Instagram

Facebook

The post Story Of A 15 Year Old Who Mastered Dancing, Yoga, Acting; The Winner of Dance Plus Season 2- Tanay Malhara. appeared first on Student Stories.