New Delhi: Para-swimmer Niranjan Mukundan will be missing the Paris Paralympics 2024 due to a foot injury, the 29-year-old announced on Monday. Mukundan, who competed at the Tokyo Paralympics, was looking to compete in his second successive Olympic Games. “It’s disheartening and sad to see something that you have worked so hard all your life becomes an unfinished dream. Paris Paralympic Games 2024 will not be a part of my journey,” he said in a social media post. Mukundan was recently in Paris for the Qualifiers but had to return back home for treatment.
“I recently developed a foot infection due to which I have not been able to compete at my full potential also making me withdraw from rest of the qualifiers and comeback home for further treatment/recovery,” he added. He also thanked his family, coaches, friends and sponsors for supporting him during his tough times.
“In the last 20 years of my swimming career I have seen a lot of success and failures which has made me mentally and physically more resilient. These testing periods are definitely for a better/stronger comeback. I am very grateful to my family, my coaches, my team, my friends, doctors, sponsors, loved ones and all others for their support, encouragement and love.
“This is definitely a tough time but I am determined to make a better and a stronger comeback. I will need your prayers and positive energy. I AM NOT DONE YET!!!,” he added.
Earlier in the year, Mukundan won three gold and two silver medals at the Reykjavik International Games (Icelandic Championships 2024). With that effort, Mukundan became the first Indian para-swimmer to cross 100 medals at the international level.
