Nadar was disabled by polio when he was one, but the virus could not cripple his mind set.
Thirty five-year-old Worli resident Prakash Nadar takes to swimming as
deftly as a fish would to water. Last week, he was declared the first
person in India to set a national record of long distance sea swimming
in the physically challenged category by Limca Book of Records.
"I received the certificate citing the national record a couple of days
ago. The officials have said the entry will be made in the 2014 edition
of book records for the longest distance swimming in open sea by a
physically challenged person,” said an elated Nadar.
D.N.A had earlier reported that Nadar whose both limbs are
struck with polio had completed a 42-km long swim in the open sea from
Gateway of India to Revas Port near Alibaug and back in 17 hours 25
minutes and 55 seconds on March 8. Also, he was being considered for
setting a national record.
“It is a longest such marathon swimming by a physically-challenged man.
He started from Gateway of India at 12.45pm on March 8, 2013, reached
Revas and returned to the starting point on 6.09am the next day. Despite
65% disability on his lower limb, he swam the distance using his
hands,” noted Vijaya Ghose, Editor, Limca Book of Records.
As Nadar ventured into the deep sea waters and constantly swum through
the night, he was constantly supervised by observers. “We kept a close
watch on Nadar to ensure that he did not take any support even for a
second while swimming. His strokes were swift and deft. He weighs close
to hundred kilos and is disabled in the legs. He relied only on his
hands to swim. His grit and mental make up is mind boggling,” said
Kishore Vaidya, general secretary, Maharashtra State Amateur Aquatic
Association.
Nadar was disabled by polio when he was one, but the virus could not
cripple his mind set. “I feel lighter and much more at home in the sea. I
have been plunging in deep waters and and swimming long distances since
more than twenty years now,” he said.
Having achieved his first national record, Nadar has already set his
eyes on the next one. “Before June, I intend to achieve my next record,
where I will stay put in the swimming pool in a vertical position with
my legs and hands chained for up to eight hours. I have begun training
for the feat,” said Nadar.
Source : DNA INDIA , 30th April 2013
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