Para swimmer Jigar Thakker gets PM Modi’s attention, sets sight on 2020 Paralympics

19-year-old Jigar Thakker from Rajkot has cerebral palsy, but has never let that come in the way of his dreams.

Sights set on 2018 Para Asian Games

A para swimmer, Jigar came in for some attention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio show Mann ki Baat on 26 November. In his show, Modi praised Jigar’s performance at the 17th National Para Swimming Championship held in Udaipur. He said that Jigar’s determination is admirable and wished him luck for the 2020 Paralympics.

Jigar is happy with the attention and says it has increased his motivation to prepare for the 2020 event. He aims to make India proud in the 2018 Para Asian Games in Indonesia and 2020 Paralympics in Japan.

He spends eight hours doing different exercises – four hours of swimming, two and a half hours of gymnasium and exercises and one and a half hours of yoga.

His parents, Jayesh and Heena Thakker, help Jigar in the swimming pool. They take turns to oversee his swimming pool and exercise routine.

Watch in Sign Language