That his body is 90% paralysed has not deterred 33-year-old Adil Ansari from swimming. The man with a gritty determination bagged two gold medals at the 14th National Paralympic Swimming Championship in the categories of 50-metre freestyle and backstroke men's national championship held in Indore in November.
Adil's journey to victory was replete with ordeals and tribulations. “After my selection for the national event, I decided to practise more rigorously. The municipal pool in Bhiwandi is run by ex-corporator Anees Momin on contractual basis. I showed the pool authorities videos of my swimming practise, but their men refused to let me use the pool and asked me as to who will take responsibility if I drowned,” said Adil.
Adil was taken aback by the rude response. A member of Maharashtra State Paralympic Swimming Association, he had to drive from Bhiwandi to Dharavi and back everyday for practice. “I had no option but to travel about 90 kilometers daily.”
On May 16, 2002, Adil suffered a serious spinal injury after his head and back hit a sharp stone during one of his usual diving adventures. “I started swimming since I was 10. We had no access to swimming pools and hence went to rivers and wells to swim. We used to frequent Khadavli river on Nasik highway twice a week. I would swim across the entire river,” he said.
The day of the accident was unfortunate, he recounts. He dived from his usual spot but hit a stone and suffered grievous injuries. He was unconscious for nearly a month and lost sensation in 90 of the body. The accident made him wheelchair-bound and left him devastated.
Adil again took to swimming five years ago after watching other persons with disabilities in action. “I can move my hands but not fingers. With much effort I can lift my body. My body which is paralyzed chest down floats in water, so I manage to swim,” Adil said. “I can swim the back stroke. I cannot do the breast stroke as that involves lifting my neck up and conduct sideways movement.”
The gutsy swimmer is disheartened that even after winning a national championship, his entry to the local is barred. “I pleaded with Momin's men to let me swim but they are asking for an affidavit saying they will not be held responsible in case there is a mishap in the pool. I am distressed by such discriminatory behaviour towards disabled persons.”
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