Sajan Prakash, India’s ace swimmer who has represented India in two Asian Games, two Commonwealth Games, is stuck in Thailand since the authorities there announced an unprecedented lockdown as a precautionary measure to counter the escalating cases of novelcoronavirus.
“I was in Thailand for advance training and all of sudden the Thailand government announced lockdown. I tried to return to India, but international travel was not allowed,” says Prakash, the only swimmer who represented India at Rio Olympics 2016
. Prakash was left with no other option but extend his stay in Thailand.
“Initially, it was difficult as all the swimmers at Thailand were anxious as the Tokyo countdown was on,” says the 25-year-old Keralite. Amid the lockdown, he got ample time to recover from his neck and shoulder injury but he missed the Physio support. Later, like other swimmers in the center, he was also doing dry-land training
It was during May that the Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) for reopening of swimming pools was released by the Thailand government and all the swimmers started swimming while pursuing social distancing.
“Initially, in May every swimmer was allowed to swim one hour daily, later in June twice a day, and finally since July we are training normally,” says Prakash.
Prakash has qualified “B” cut timings in two swimming events for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and is currently training under renowned coach Miguel Lopez at Thanyapura Centre, Phuket, Thailand.
When asked about his journey and the struggles he has faced throughout his life, Prakash says, “It was my mother who sacrificed the most for me. She introduced me to the sport. Moreover, I must not forget to mention my coaches, Joy Joseph Thoppan, Saji Sebastian, S. Pradeep Kumar, and Miguel Lopez.”
Prakash is currently working as an Inspector in Kerala Police and is happy for the relentless support he receives from his department.
The turning point in Prakash’s life was when he won a silver in 200m butterfly in 2012 senior nationals at Pune. “The feat gave me a lot of hope towards the international level,” he says.
“It was an important moment for me. However, I will cherish the day when I was announced as the Best Athlete in the 35th National Games which were held in Kerala in 2015,” he adds.
When The Daily Guardian asked him about the ways Indian swimming would progress, he says, “First, we need to identify the talent, give it the right opportunity and exposure. Further, building up infrastructure in our country and getting the scientific and biomechanics experts, having more swimming meets, will help the swimmers to compete with the International level. If we need to meet world standards, we got to work for it.”
The writer is Assistant Professor in LSR, DU, and a wellknown swimmer.