Ironman 70.3 Championship held in Philippines
Highlights
Pawani became a female Ironman at the age of 18. She completed the Ironman Championship held in Philippines in 7 hours 22 minutes. She completed swimming and cycling.
Naiduniya Representative, Bhopal: Bhopal’s daughter Pawan Sapkal has become the country’s youngest female Ironman. She achieved this feat in the Ironman 70.3 Championship held recently in Davao, Philippines. 24 participants from many countries participated in the championship.
90km cycling
Pavani participated in the 18 to 24 age group. She turned 18 just three days before the championship. Pavani swam 1.9 km in the sea in the championship, followed by cycling 90 km, then completed a 21.1 km half marathon. She completed all three difficult activities in just seven hours and 22 minutes while the cutoff was eight hours and 30 minutes.
keep yourself hydrated in hot weather
Pawani said that the weather in Philippines was hot, it felt like our country but the humidity was very high so cycling and running activities became difficult but I did not let there be a shortage of water in my body and by managing the time I achieved the target in the given time.
Training in Bhopal, top in studies too
Pawan is a class 12 student in a private school in Bhopal. Her father Praveen Sapkal is Bhopal’s first Ironman. From the age of seven, she used to go with her father to prepare for Ironman. She used to cycle and run in Van Vihar. She used to swim in Rajiv Gandhi Taran Pushkar.
Pawan is as good in studies as she is in sports. She takes NEET coaching for eight hours. Her mother is a teacher and she has a younger brother. Her goal is to become a doctor.
Pavani’s father is preparing her for Ironman
Pawan’s father Praveen Sapkal has trained 13 Ironmen from Bhopal so far. He has formed a group named Super Athlete, where he prepares people to become Ironmen.