Proud! Kanchanmala Pande bags gold at World Para-Swimming Championship; creates history
Mexico City, December 8: India’s Para-athlete Kanchanmala Pande on Thursday made the whole country proud after winning the gold medal in the World Para-Swimming Championship which is being held in Mexico. Notably, Para-athlete Kanchanmala Pande also scripted history as she became first Indian to clinch a gold medal in the international arena in swimming.
Para-athlete Kanchanmala Pande secured the gold medal in 200 meters medley event in S-11 category. The 26-year-old, Para swimmer Kanchanmala, unfortunately, missed the podium finish in other events. She missed the top three finish by a whisker in 100 meters freestyle and finished fourth. She was fifth fastest in 100 meters breaststroke and backstroke.
Kanchanmala, who works with Reserve Bank of India (RBI), however, did not lose her focus and she won a silver medal in a 200m individual medley. Kanchanmala qualified for the World Championships in Mexico after she beat the qualifying mark in 100m Freestyle (1:34:00), 100m Backstroke (1:41:00), 100m Breaststroke (2:01:00) and a silver 200m Individual Medley (3:03:00) against top para-athletes in Berlin.
Kanchanmala, who hails from Amravati, is a regular swimmer of Aqua Sports Club, Nagpur. Kanchanmala’s achievements are as follows:
- In the 17th National Para-Swimming Championship held at Udaipur, she clinched three gold medals in 100m Breaststroke, 200m Individual Medley and 100m Backstroke.
- She showed excellent performance at the IDM Berlin Para-Swimming Championship, Germany and thus got selected in the Indian squad.
- She represented Maharashtra several times at the national level both in able as well as in the disabled category.
- She has participated in the World Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships and has traveled to 8 countries.
BACKGROUND:
NIS coach Pravin Lamkhade, Shashikant Chande and Vishal Chandurkar
Fitness trainer Sachin Deshmukh
Dr. Kevin Agrawal, renowned sports physiotherapist.