Paddling on the Ganges in India are a special group of female kayakers motivating underprivileged girls and survivors of human trafficking to “feel the freedom of the water”.
Known as the Ganga Girls, the group are blazing a trial for kayaking in the Asian nation as they paddle on the river, considered the “Lifeline of India”.
Naina Adhikari, a 25-year-old from Nainital, Uttarakhand, is behind this initiative which she launched in 2022 after being inspired by a project for young girls in Chile.
She remains determined to break down barriers facing girls who are enduring hardships in India by giving them the opportunity to kayak.
“I started Ganga Girls because I didn’t have any female paddlers around me,” said Adhikari.
“I was paddling for 12 years and there were no girls in the community.
“I felt a sense of loneliness and I was missing a river family.
“I went to Chile where I got my first chance to fly out of India with only girls whom I had never me before.
“I got to paddle with them and from there I was part of a programme where young girls came together to learn.
“Then I was like if I can do this here why can’t I do this in my country so I went back to India and I started doing it mostly for the underprivileged girls.
“I want to give my time, energy, passion and everything to people who deserve that support because I know what it means to have support.
“Coming from India and diving fully into a sport like was very tough.
“There were a lot barriers.
“There are people who don’t even have the basic necessities in life so this group is for girls who are facing hardships and are survivors of human trafficking.
“They come from underprivileged backgrounds.”
The Ganga Girls are making a positive impact in India with 10 girls now signed up and Adhikari hopes more will join in the future.
“If they want to continue paddling, that’s the best thing that can happen so they can feel the freedom of the water,” said Adhikari.
“Most of these girls come under the clutches of studying, marrying and having a family.
“They don’t get to think about themselves so this project is for people who have gone through hardships and for them to just be free.
“The vision is to have more people join in.
“The more people we have, the more chances of having athletes and more awareness of the rivers and the protection of the rivers and girls.”
Adhikari started kayaking at the age of 13 after being introduced to the sport by her uncle in Rishikesh, known as the whitewater hub of India.
“Initially, I didn’t like it,” said Adhikari.
“I didn’t like the idea of being around the boys and getting drenched in water.
“It was very unnatural and unusual for me to be around boys and to wear skintight wetsuits so that made me feel very uncomfortable.
“I think that’s when I decided that I am going to learn how to roll and I’m going to stop swimming.
“I liked the idea of pushing myself and when I went to more competitions, I saw world champions coming to India.
“When I saw no girls around me, that motivated me even more to keep doing it.”
Adhikari is aiming to represent India at the 2025 ICF Slalom World Championships in Sydney, Australia.
Currently, Adhikari is in Plattling, Germany after being named in the ICF Canoe Freestyle Development Camp.
This week has seen Adhikari and her compatriot Devi Dada make history as the first Indian athletes to compete at the ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships.
Dada, aged 23, is from Arunachal Pradesh and started paddling in 2022 in Leh Ladakh.
“I am very happy to have this opportunity from the ICF to be part of the development camp,” added Adhikari.
“I have got to be able to learn so much and I think it’s a great restart for Indian freestyle and the future of freestyle.
“I would definitely like to keep training because that will help me with my kayaking in general.
“I love running rivers and a love travelling.
“Whenever I have the opportunity to go somewhere, I go for it, and I try to spend as much time on the water either in slalom or freestyle.
“Doing freestyle has been one of the best things I’ve tried in my life.
“I love dancing and I really feel that energy and movement on the water.”
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