Mysuru: Sixteen-year-old Madeyanda Aarna Poovanna from Kodagu represented India and clinched an impressive haul of 3 Gold, 2 Silver and 1 Bronze medal at the 5th Asian Open Schools Invitational (AOSI 2025) Swimming Championships held in Bangkok from Feb. 6 to 9, 2025.

The event, hosted at the Aquatics Centre of Assumption University’s Suvarnabhumi Campus, featured individual and relay events that showcased the competitive spirit of young athletes from across Asia and beyond.

Organised by Global Aquatics under the supervision of the Royal Thai Air Force Club and sanctioned by the Thailand Aquatics Association (TAA), the championship brought together over 1,150 athletes from 18 countries, including teams from Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and the USA.

Following her success in Bangkok, Aarna went on to win a Silver medal in the 10-km sea swimming event at the Khelo India Open Championship held in Daman and Diu, Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, in May this year. She won the Silver in the 10K Swimming – Women category.

Aarna is currently studying in Class 12 at Chettinad Vidyashram, Chennai. She is coached by Tamilvanan, who played a key role in shaping her swimming career.

Aarna began her academic journey at Kodagu Vidyalaya, Madikeri, and Sarojini Madhusudhan Kushe School, Mangaluru (Dakshina Kannada), and completed her high school education at Holy Angels School, Bengaluru.

It was in Bengaluru that she began her formal training in swimming, where she quickly demonstrated                                                  remarkable potential.

She later relocated to Chennai to continue her training, following her coach, who had moved there after taking up a Government job.

Aarna is the daughter of Madeyanda Poovanna (Appanna) and Gayathri of Madikeri. While Poovanna is a businessman in Madikeri, Gayathri was a teacher by profession and resigned to pursue her daughter’s dreams.