Back from setting a new Asian record at the Para Swimming World Series 2018 in Berlin, Bengaluru lad and para swimmer  Niranjan Mukundan feels extremely blessed to be born in the city that has ample facilities for swimmers. In an exclusive chat with Bangalore Times, he talks about his love for the city, on changing people’s mindset and preparing for the Asian Games…

Niranjan, who has been recovering from a spate of injuries, is all smiles when he talks about setting a new record. The swimmer recently broke a 15-year Asian record in the 200-metre backstroke category. “It’s a really nice feeling and a bit of a surprise actually, because I was down with a lot of injuries last year and was recovering. This record has been a memorable experience for me as I beat a lot of European swimmers and some of the top swimmers from across the globe. It has given me a lot of confidence,” says the 23-year-old, adding, “It’s special because I also won a bronze in my favourite event — the 50-metre butterfly category.”

Niranjan says that being a para swimmer has never been an easy task. “People initially thought that being a para swimmer wouldn’t do me any good. They always thought that we are not on par with other able-bodied athletes. But, I believe and hope that I’ve broken that stereotype. Individuals who are into para sports have broken that thought process by winning several medals regularly,” he says.On asking what changes he would like to bring into the system in order to support other para athletes, he says, “People usually think that being a differently abled person, you won’t be able to achieve anything but look at other para athletes. They have achieved so much with very less support from others.” The swimmer says that though people are more inclined to sports like cricket, the mindset is slowly changing now. “Over the years, we have seen many sports come up and many athletes win medals for the country. However, a little bit more support will do wonders for people like us,” he adds.

Bengaluru has one of the best facilities for athletes in the country

Bengaluru, according to Niranjan, has top-notch facilities for swimmers and some of the best coaches in the country. “The city is known as a swimmers’ hub and people from all across the country come to Bengaluru to train as we have the best facilities, in addition to the good weather and infrastructure, that favours them,” he says. However, his love for Bengaluru doesn’t stop there, says the self-confessed movie buff. “I am a complete foodie and a movie buff. Though I follow a strict diet, whenever I find time and I’m in Bengaluru, I like to hang out with my friends. MG Road, Indiranagar, Koramangala are some of my favourite places to hang out in the city,” he adds.

Preparing for Asian Games

Next on his mind is the Asian Games, scheduled to be held in August-September. “Though I’m training and preparing for the Asian Games now, my ultimate goal is to qualify for the Paralympics in 2020 and win a medal there,” he sums up.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> City News> Bangalore News / by Sandra Marina Fernandes  / TNN / June 28th, 2018