Hyderabad's Garima Mishra Selected for 2026 CMAS Asian Championship Finswimming Indoor Juniors
The Underwater Sports Association India (USAI) is delighted to share some truly proud news from Hyderabad, Telangana. Garima Mishra, a talented 14-year-old finswimming athlete, has been officially selected by USAI to represent India at the 2026 CMAS Asian Championship Finswimming Indoor Juniors, scheduled to take place from 15th – 21st September 2026 in Hai'an, Republic of China.
For an athlete as young as Garima, this selection marks a defining milestone — not just for her personal journey in the sport, but for the growing strength of grassroots finswimming and underwater sports talent across India.
A Rising Star from Hyderabad
Garima Mishra hails from Hyderabad, Telangana, where her journey in finswimming has been shaped by dedication, discipline, and countless hours in the pool. At just 14 years old, she now stands among the select group of young Indian athletes earning the opportunity to compete on the continental stage — representing the country at the CMAS Asian Championship, one of the most significant events on the junior international finswimming calendar.
Her selection is a reflection of consistent hard work and the kind of talent that USAI's national development pathway is designed to identify and nurture, from grassroots training all the way to international representation. Garima credits much of her growth in the sport to the guidance of her coach, Rahul Narwaria, alongside the early support of her father, who first introduced her to swimming.
In Her Own Words
Speaking about her selection, Garima shared her excitement and gratitude:
"I am going to be representing India in China with the help of the Underwater Sports Association (India). I am thankful to USAI and to Mr. Kuldip Patil Sir, and to the most important person in my life, my coach Rahul Narwaria Sir. I also want to thank my father, who taught me swimming. I promise I will give my best in China and bring the trophy back to India."
Proud Parents Behind Every Champion
Behind every young athlete's success is a family that has supported every early morning practice, every training session, and every sacrifice along the way. Garima's parents, Mr. Sandeep Mishra and Mrs. Poonam Mishra, have expressed immense pride and joy over their daughter's selection to represent India internationally.
For the Mishra family, this achievement is the result of years of quiet support behind the scenes — and a moment of tremendous pride to see their daughter's dedication recognised on the international stage at such a young age.
USAI Leadership Reacts
Reacting to Garima's selection, Mr. Mayur, Secretary, Underwater Sports Association India (USAI), expressed his happiness and pride at seeing the young athlete earn the opportunity to represent India at the continental level. He congratulated Garima and her family, highlighting that her selection is a proud moment not only for Hyderabad but for the entire Indian underwater sports community.
Mr. Mayur and Mr. Kuldip Patil, Secretary of the Finswimming Commission, Underwater Sports Association India, expressed their heartfelt congratulations to Garima, her parents, and her coach Rahul Narwaria. Both leaders conveyed their confidence in Garima's abilities and wished her every success as she prepares to represent India at the 2026 CMAS Asian Championship in Hai'an.
Reacting to Garima's selection, Mr. Kuldip Patil, Secretary of the Finswimming Commission, Underwater Sports Association India, congratulated the young athlete and her family:
"Garima's selection is exactly the kind of story that reflects what USAI is working to build across India — a genuine, structured pathway where young talent from every corner of the country gets the opportunity to compete on the world stage. At just 14, she has shown remarkable dedication and discipline, and we are incredibly proud to have her represent India at the CMAS Asian Championship in Hai'an. On behalf of USAI, I wish Garima and all our selected athletes the very best as they prepare for this important championship."
About the 2026 CMAS Asian Championship Finswimming Indoor Juniors
The CMAS Asian Championship is one of the most prestigious continental platforms in junior finswimming, bringing together the best young talent from across Asia. Representing India at this level offers athletes like Garima invaluable international exposure, the chance to compete against top regional talent, and an important step on the pathway toward future CMAS World Championships and beyond.
As India's only CMAS-affiliated national federation for finswimming and underwater sports, USAI is proud to support Garima and all of India's selected junior athletes as they prepare for Hai'an.
A Proud Moment for Indian Finswimming
Stories like Garima's are exactly why USAI continues to invest in structured athlete development pathways across the country — because talent, wherever it comes from, deserves a genuine route to international competition. From Hyderabad to Hai'an, Garima Mishra's journey is one that the entire underwater sports India community will be following closely in the months ahead.
USAI extends its heartfelt congratulations to Garima and the Mishra family, and wishes her the very best as she prepares to compete for India on the international stage.
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For more updates on India's selected athletes, upcoming CMAS events, and the latest from underwater sports and finswimming in India, keep visiting underwatersportsindia.com.
