Kanchanmala Pande becomes first Indian to bag gold at world para swimming

Mumbai: Visually impaired athlete Kanchanmala Pande made India proud on Thursday after becoming the first Indian swimmer to clinch gold at the World Para Swimming Championship in Mexico.

Pande who hails from Amravati district in Maharashtra bagged the top spot in the 200 metres medley event in S-11 category.  The swimmer, who works with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), said she did not expect a top-finish despite being confident of bagging a medal.

 “I had prepared well for the World Championship. I was expecting a good show in Mexico and also a medal. But, securing the top position and a gold medal at world championship is surprising. I am really very happy. At the same time, I don’t know how to express it in words,” she was quoted saying by the Times of India.

Earlier in July, Pande was also participating in the Para Swimming Championships in Germany but was left penniless after the sanctioned government money wasn’t transferred. As a result of this, Pande was forced to take to the streets to beg and borrow money

Despite the financial problems, she ended up winning silver, thus securing qualifications for the World Championships. Pande eventually missed a podium finish in the 100m freestyle category by a small margin.