Sonal’s synchro safari takes her to Russia
Sonal won silver with the national team at last year's Commonwealth Festival in Australia and is looking forward to this year's champs.
SHE stutter steps up to the pool, then she gets in the water where her head disappears for a few seconds, then in a burst of energy, she shoots out the water with her hands held aloft. She begins performing intricate leg maneuvers upside down in the swimming pool, all you can see are legs and hands, bending and straightening, and crossing and recrossing in fast configurations.
This is the sport of synchronised swimming, which requires holding your breath for long periods of time, remembering specific combinations and most of all holding your smile. One of the rising stars in the sport is Northlands Girls’ High School (NGHS) Grade 10 pupil, Sonal Reddi.
She was recently selected for the South Africa Synchronised Swimming team that will be competing in Russia for the 15th Fina World Junior Synchro Swimming Champs.
It is the second time the local resident will be representing South Africa after winning silver with the national team at last year’s Commonwealth Festival in Australia.
Reddi will be competing in a team of 10 in the U18 category.
“I’m excited, but really nervous. There are 29 other countries at the event so it’s going to be very tough. As a team we’ve worked very hard on our routine and trying to be as competitive as we can be. I think the misconception is that it is an easy sport but it’s really not. It’s always an honour to represent your country and I want to make South Africa proud,” she said.
