Bengaluru's para-swimmer drives Golden Quadrilateral in record time

Para-swimmer Niranjan Mukundan, who has represented India at various athletic and swimming events at the Asian Games and other world events, has completed the Golden Quadrilateral by car in record time.

Niranjan, who started his expedition on July 31, completed the 5,846 km gruelling journey in 124 hours and 52 minutes through Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. By completing the drive, he became the youngest and the fastest to do so.

Niranjan was accompanied by his childhood friend Vivek, who was also the navigator.

The previous record was held by Harish Kumar, an IIT-Delhi alumnus who completed the journey in 129 hours.

Niranjan’s time has been approved by the India Book of Records under the Differently Abled to cover the Golden Quadrilateral category.

The 2015 Junior World Champion at the World Junior Games, drove a Hyundai i20 during the expedition and says the journey has opened up new possibilities. “When I set out, there was only one target and that was to beat the previous record.”

The 22-year-old Bengaluru boy is ecstatic and rightly so. Niranjan was born with spina bifida, a condition where the affected person has incomplete spinal development and clubbed feet. He took to swimming early in his life as the doctors recommended it for his development.

He hasn’t looked back since, representing India at IWAS (International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports) and World Junior Games.

He is now waiting to hear from the Limca Book of Records after which he will return to Thailand where he trains.

DH News Service