IWAS World Games: Bengaluru para swimmer Niranjan Mukundan wins eight medals

Mumbai: Bengaluru para swimmer Niranjan Mukundan has won eight medals, including three golds, at the recently-concluded IWAS (International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports) U-23 World Games in Prague, Czech Republic. Niranjan’s efforts saw him win gold medals in 200m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 50m breaststroke, silver in 100m fly and 50m freestyle, as also bronze in 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and 100m backstroke events, said a release from GoSports Foundation, which is supporting Niranjan through the Para Champions Programme. [caption id=“attachment_2873556” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Niranjan Mukundan. Facebook[/caption] Niranjan, who is born with a medical condition called Spina Bifida and clubbed feet and competes in the S-8 category, also had the honour of delivering the athletes’ oath on behalf of 35 competing countries. In last year’s edition of the Games, he had created a record for highest number of individual medals, raking in 10 medals in all the events that he participated in. Speaking about his achievement, Niranjan said, “It is humbling to not only represent India but also win at the highest level. I am delighted with my performances and feel privileged to have had the opportunity to deliver the oath on behalf of my fellow competing athletes. “I would like to thank my coaches John Christopher and Miguel Lopez Alvarado for their continuous efforts and helping me train for this event. I hope this is only the start to many more achievements in the future,” he added.