Young soccer player Nitisha Negi, who died in Adelaide, broke cultural barriers, grieving father says from India

NITISHA Negi was an aspiring teenage athlete breaking cultural and social barriers in India but her life — and dreams — were sadly cut short on a trip to Adelaide.

Young and talented — Nitisha Negi, 15, from New Delhi drowned at Glenelg breakwaters on Sunday. Picture supplied by family.

• Government to pay for Nitisha Negi’s body to return to India
• Public ban from notorious breakwaters
• Grieving father’s last haunting words to young soccer player

NITISHA Negi was an aspiring teenage athlete breaking cultural and social barriers in India but her life — and dreams — were sadly cut short on a trip to Adelaide.

The 15-year-old would wake up at 5am every morning to ride to gruelling soccer practice sessions, her devastated father, Pooran Singh Negi, told The Advertiser from his home in Khichripur in east New Delhi.

In the lead up to her first international trip to Adelaide to participate in the Pacific School Games, Nitisha told her father of the excitement and pride she felt in representing her country on an international forum.

But only days later, the young talent became the third person in two years to drown on the notorious breakwater north of Glenelg jetty on Sunday.

File photo of Nitisha Negi (in white) left behind her parents, sister Shivangi and brother Ansh. Picture supplied by family.

Nitisha’s untimely death has left her mother, Meena, and her siblings, elder sister Shivangi, 18, and younger brother Ansh, 12, inconsolable.

Mr Negi said Nitisha was “the pride of our family” and “extremely driven”.

“She would wake up every day, on holidays, weekends, get on her bicycle and go to her practice sessions,” he said.

“She was so proud she wanted to do everything by herself. In India, it is tough for a girl to do what she did, but she kept doing what she loved.”

Nitisha Negi, 15, won many athletics and soccer competition. Picture: Twitter

He said four years ago Nitisha wanted to pursue soccer — her 35 certificates and trophies are now scattered around the home.

Further marking her achievements as an accomplished athlete, Nitisha was chosen to represent her school at the Pacific School Games earlier this month.

Mr Negi previously told Indian media he last spoke to his daughter when the Games ended last Saturday after her team had lost and he told her to “take care of herself and come back soon”.

Nitisha had an interest in soccer from a young age. Picture supplied by family.

The next day Nitisha and four other girls was believed to be on the rocks at Glenelg before being swept away by a wave.

The four girls were rescued and taken to hospital — where two still remain under care — but a frantic air and water search failed to find Nitisha.

Mr Negi said he knew his daughter was missing from family members of the other girls.

“It was me who informed officials that such an incident has happened,” he said.

“My daughter does not know how to swim.”

Nitisha with her mother Meena. Picture supplied by family.

The body of Nitisha was retrieved more than 13 hours later.

Her school friends and teammates, who recently returned from Adelaide, have been supporting the family, Mr Negi said.

“Now we are all preparing for her return. As a family, we are all devastated,” he said.

Nitisha’s body is expected to arrive in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon after which she will be taken home for family and friends to pay their final respects.

She is expected to be cremated on Sunday according to Hindu funeral rites.

Nitisha (left) were very close to her elder sister Shivangi and brother Ansh. Picture supplied by family.

Holdfast Bay council and the state government have launched a ban preventing public access 40m from the breakwaters at Glenelg, which will come into effect once signage is installed.