Seven-year-old Ishank Singh from Ranchi, Jharkhand, has created history by becoming the youngest swimmer to cross the treacherous 29 km Palk Strait between Sri Lanka and India on April 30, 2026, completing the feat in 9 hours and 50 minutes. He has been recognized by the Universal Records Forum as the “Youngest and Fastest Palk Strait Swimmer.”
🌐 About the Palk Strait
- Location: Narrow sea channel between Tamil Nadu (India) and Northern Sri Lanka
- Length: ~85 km, width varies between 30–80 km
- Significance: Historically important for trade and cultural exchange; now a popular challenge for open-water swimmers due to strong currents and unpredictable weather.
🏆 Previous & Other Records
- Jay Jaswanth (Tamil Nadu, 2019): Crossed at age 10, in 10h 30m.
- Bula Choudhury (West Bengal, 1991): First Indian woman to cross Palk Strait.
- Other Notable Swims: The Strait has been attempted by endurance swimmers worldwide, often compared to the English Channel for difficulty.
