It takes close to four hours to fly from Hong Kong to Phuket. For many that is a long flight in itself, but for Sajan Prakash it felt like an eternity. Time, after all, is relative and as enigmatic as it is strange.
The 22-year-old had heard a life-changing news just before he boarded the plane: he was selected to represent the country at Rio and it were anxious and isolated four hours for the swimmer.
“I was traveling back from Hong Kong to Phuket, where I’ve been training for the last year. When I was at the airport, one of my friend texted me saying they had announced my name (to go to Olympics). I didn’t know if it was true. For four hours I couldn’t do anything, because I was on the flight,” revealed Prakash.
“When I reached Phuket, I got the news that Shivani (Kataria) and I were going. I was confused,” he said a smile lighting up his face.
“I feel it’s hard luck for the other four swimmers. I’ll swim for them in Rio,” he added, reflecting on their selection by Swimming Federation of India through the Universality quota.
The Kerala-born swimmer clocked the B qualification in 200m butterfly, 400m and 800m freestyle events but will be representing India in the former, a choice, initially born out of necessity, that led to him being the only Indian to clock under two minutes in 200m butterfly event.
“In January, before the South Asian Games, I suffered a shoulder injury, a small tear. When I was feeling at my best I suffered the shoulder injury. I couldn’t swim freestyle due to my shoulder condition. In freestyle, you have to lift your elbow, which I couldn’t. I was confused with what I wanted.
“I started to work on what I could and I was aiming for an event in which I thought I could qualify and I felt 200m butterfly was the best event and I did it. I was aiming to do below two minutes first and in Hong Kong (early July), I swam 1:59.27. It’s a major breakthrough for Indian swimming,” he revealed.
With his mother, V.J. Shantymol, being a former track and field athlete who represented India at international events but failed to live her Olympic dream, Prakash, a Railway employee, is aware of the honour and responsibility bestowed upon him.
“I knew it was an important time. I put myself into my training programme fully. If I spent time outside, I knew I might have to wait four more years. I got a scholarship from the world body. It was the first time they have brought in a scholarship and it was really helpful for me,” said the Idukki native who trained for more than a year at the Thanyapura Sports Resort in Phuket under Spanish coaches Miguel Lopez and David Escolar.
