Reported By Vishal Angrish
You must have heard the commendable stories of sharpshooter Chandro Tomar and Prakashi Tomar from Uttar Pradesh’s Johri village, who attained national fame. They may look like an ordinary Indian grandmother, but they were one of the oldest professional shooters in the world. The story of the two-shooter Dadi inspires us, and now there’s one more added to the list. Meet Sabo Devi of Haryana, who has proved that ‘age is just a number’.
Rocking Dadi Swims Across Ganga, Saves Lives
The 77-year-old woman, dressed in a simple salwar-suit, may not be world-famous, but people affectionately call her ‘Rocking Dadi.’ Besides her other skills, she takes pride in swimming, defeating even professionals. Although she carries a stick in her hand, jumping off a bridge deep into 15 feet is an ordinary routine task for her. She has also swum across the River Ganga from Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar, performing stunts better than Bollywood action heroes.
Sabo Devi Accepts ‘Ice Challenge’
In 2024, Sabo Devi displayed another remarkable feat by accepting the ‘ice challenge’. She lay down next to her grandson in a water tank filled with ice for several hours and even defeated him. While she was born in Sonipat’s Sitawali village, she married a tractor mechanic, Krishna, a resident of Hulledi village. After the death of her husband in 2016, she raised her three sons and two daughters alone. All of her children are married. Meanwhile, she lives with her middle son named Sandeep, whose son Chirag aka Khagad is making waves on social media, along with her.
‘Better Than Bollywood Action Heroes’
Sabo Devi learnt swimming at a very young age while bathing animals in a canal located in Sitawali village. Even at this age, she doesn’t hesitate while jumping into the water, thus defying all the odds. She has time and again shown courage, leaving spectators speechless and full of admiration. After marriage, she saved the lives of two people from drowning in a canal, including her grandson.
A Mentor And Coach
She is, in fact, the mentor and coach of her 14-year-old grandson Chirag, who regularly works out, does wrestling, and swims with her. Yet more than her swimming skills, she is physically very strong and healthy, and doesn’t shy away from shaking a leg to traditional Haryanvi songs. You might be surprised to know that she likes to bathe in the chilled water in the canal during winter.
Sabo Devi has appealed to the people to refrain from performing dangerous stunts after watching her. Moreover, she has warned against jumping into the canal without the supervision of a professional.
ALSO READ: America’s 250th Independence Day: Why July 4th Matters And How It’s Celebrated
