Gujarat-based swimming champion Jigar Thakkar has recorded his name as a gold medalist at the 21st National Para-Swimming Championship which concluded in Udaipur.Competing with more than 400 paralympic swimmers at the national-level championship, he also bagged two silver medals.

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A fourth-semester student of Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Marwadi University Faculty of Management Studies, Thakkar was born with cerebral palsy, a group of disorders affecting mobility, posture, or muscle tone. Jigar began swimming at the age of eight upon advice from his therapist. He has also been recognized by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the program ‘Mann Ki Baat’.

With the recent declaration of Indian Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja as the brand ambassador, Marwadi University has always promoted and encouraged not only academic growth but overall holistic development of its students. Marwadi University aims to build an equitable and inclusive learning environment for all, and is constantly striving in that direction in curricular and co-curricular learning.

Thakkar’s exemplary swimming practice and career is a testament to the broadening scope for people with disabilities in sports. The 2020 Paralympic Games also saw India's best-ever medal haul with a total of 19 medals. This result was better than the medal haul of 12 medals of all previous Paralympics appearances combined.

By: Atul Dhimann