Team Herald
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PANJIM: Four exceptional Goan para-swimmers Melvin Mendes, Mangesh Kuttikar, Sheron Figarado and Harshad Sawant competing in the S9 and S14 categories overcame significant challenges to secure their place in the competition, demonstrating remarkable resilience at the ongoing 24th National Para-Swimming Championships, held at the swimming pool, Campal-Panjim, on Sunday.
Melvin Mendes, 24 year-old, began his journey in para-sports with badminton before finding his true passion in swimming. His competitive swimming career took off in 2022, driven by his deep love for the water. Recently, Melvin secured gold medals in both the 50 metres and 100 metres freestyle at the State Para-Swimming Championships, earning him a spot at the national event.
Expressing gratitude for the experience as hec ompetes against athletes from other States Mendes said, “You just have to get out of the house and explore what you want just once to understand the path ahead.”
He hopes that through his performance here at the National Championships and with the huge participation persons with disabilities may get inspired to take up para-sports.
Mangesh Kuttikar, 54, is a pioneer in Goa’s para-swimming community. Since beginning his journey in 1993, he has reached numerous milestones, including representing India on the international stage. Mangesh is particularly renowned for being the first person with a disability in India to swim 10 kilometers blindfolded with his hands tied. He attributes his success to self-learning and unwavering determination. Reflecting on his path, Kuttikar said, "The journey has not been easy, but determination and self-learning have brought me this far."
Sheron Figarado, 41, an associate professor at IIT Goa, started swimming in 2018 and ventured into competitive para-swimming in 2021. Since then, he has dedicated himself to honing his skills, with a particular focus on breaststroke events. Sharon credits his coach, Keshav Naik, for helping him refine his technique and expresses gratitude to his colleagues and staff at IIT for their unwavering support. While he values the backing of local training facilities, he hopes for more resources in the future.
"There is greater awareness about para-swimming now, and I believe we should encourage our neighbours and friends to get involved. My goal is to qualify for international events in the near future," he said.
20-year-old Harshad Sawant has been a dedicated para-swimmer for nearly five years. Encouraged by his teacher, he embraced competitive swimming while managing his studies at New Dawn Ashadeep. Beyond the pool, Harshad is also passionate about dancing and painting. "I enjoy competing in various events, and swimming has provided me with an opportunity to excel in sports," he said.
With his sights set on a gold medal in the S14 category, Harshad is hopeful that his determination and diverse talents will lead him to victory.
The 24th National Para Swimming Championships which provides a vital platform for para-swimmers to showcase their talents and advance in their sporting careers is organised by the Office of State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities in collaboration with the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Paralympic Committee of India and Sports Authority of Goa.