Orchids First Grader Mannem Nagasai Aashritha Triumphs In Germany’s 6.3km Open Water Swimming Event

• Six-year-old Mannem Nagasai Aashritha from Telangana was the youngest participant to cover the extended course, spanning 3 hours 47 minutes, in Germany’s Lake Constance, entering the event’s ‘Hall of Fame’ 

• Daughter of national-level swimmer Mothukuri Kiran Mounika Aashritha started treading water as early as 18 months

• Getting access to a swimming pool at her school campus for every day practise played a key role in honing her inherent skills early on in life

Hyderabad, September 4, 2025 – Orchids The International School, an award-winning chain of educational institutions, proudly celebrates the remarkable achievement of Mannem Nagasai Aashritha, a Grade 1 student from Orchids’ Bachupally campus in Telangana. The six-year-old girl marked her first international swimming competition by successfully covering a distance of over six kilometres during the coveted 2025 Lake Constance Open Water Crossing Friedrichshafen – Romanshorn in Germany last month. Braving the cold and choppy waters, Aashritha swam 6.3km in 3 hours 47 minutes, surpassing the planned distance by 1.3km at the Open Water Swimming Event in Lake Constance. It also sealed her name in the event’s ‘Hall of Fame’. This extraordinary feat at such a young age reflects her dedication, perseverance and strong support from her family and school.

Hailing the little one’s victory, Tabassum Zaidi - Principal, Orchids The International School, Bachupally campus - said, “We are incredibly proud of Aashritha topping an international open water swimming event. A six-year-old swimmer covering a distance of 6.3km in Germany’s Lake Constance is no mean feat! Her passion and dedication toward the sport and her parents’ relentless effort to inspire and support her every step of the way have paid off in her success. Little  Aashritha has instantly become a hero of the Bachupally campus too. Her achievement is already piquing other students’ interest in swimming and other sports, which I believe is a welcome trend. We are exploring initiatives to encourage participation in more such events in the near future. This milestone demonstrates how talent, timely guidance and a conducive learning environment can propel youngsters to reach their full potential.”

Adding to that, Piyush Rai - National Sports Head at Orchids The International School - said, “Aashritha’s dedication and success at such a young age once again remind us of how vital sporting events are in shaping a child’s overall development. Research shows that children engaged in regular physical activities perform better academically, display stronger social skills and have improved emotional well-being. Besides physical fitness, sports also leads to resilience, discipline, teamwork and the ability to handle both success and failure in life. This philosophy informs our structured swimming curriculum at Orchids. We strive to help students in not only mastering a skill but also develop confidence and character that extend far beyond the pool.”

According to Aashritha’s mother, Mothukuri Kiran Mounika, seeing Aashritha making a mark in her maiden international swimming event is like touching her own dream. “I am over the moon! As a parent, it fills my heart with immense pride to witness my daughter inching toward her goal. Swimming is not only a sport, it’s a life skill. And I believe that every child should be introduced to swimming early in life. Given the number of drowning incidents among children reported every year in India, schools must accommodate swimming infrastructure on their premises. Orchids’ flexibility, encouragement and excellent on-campus sports facilities have played a pivotal part in helping Aashritha pursue her dreams while keeping pace with academics,” elaborated Mounika, who herself is a swimming coach and national-level swimmer.

Aashritha’s achievement not only brings pride to her family and school but also inspires other young students to dream big and embrace challenges with determination and courage.

About Orchids The International School:
Orchids The International School is one of India’s leading K12 school chains. Since its establishment in 2002, Orchids has tirelessly worked toward redefining education for the new generation with smart classes, remodeled educational philosophy, top-notch infrastructure and a technology-integrated curriculum. Orchids is a one-of-its-kind educational institution, where innovation and excellence work side by side. It follows the CBSE and ICSE curriculum infused with international teaching methodologies to provide a strong emphasis on personality development along with academic excellence. Currently, it has over 75,000 students and 7,000 teaching and non-teaching staff members, plus boarding schools. Orchids’ core anthem is: ‘Shaping Minds, Touching Lives’.