Asian Games 2018: Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash relived as his family found safe in flooded Kerala

Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash has been giving his best at the ongoing Asian Games at Jakarta, while his family members went missing in flooded Kerala.

The 24-year-old Prakash became India’s first swimmer to reach 200 metres butterfly final despite the knowledge that five relatives had not been found and his family home in Kerala had been destroyed by floodwater.

Speaking to the media, Prakash said, “I had trouble sleeping, thinking about my family. I hadn’t heard from them because they were cut off from the (phone) network and not able to contact us.

“I was very nervous but my uncle called to say they’re all safe and everything is alright back home.”

Although Prakash finished fifth, outside the medals, his prayers were eventually answered after one of his uncles called and informed that his family had survived the devastating floods in Kerala that has already killed 300-plus people.

Earlier, it was known that Prakash kept calling his mother, mother, who stays in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, to enquire about family members after learning about the flood.

"I could not contact others (to share the news of making the final)... My uncle from Dubai said everybody is safe," Prakash said.

The swimmer achieved his personal target time in Jakarta but felt he could have done even better.
 

"One minutes 56 seconds was my target, but even that was not inside medal chances... I'm just not satisfied with my performance," he added.