Sajan Prakash: Great to win best athlete award at National Games but wasn’t expecting it

With a young bunch of swimmers pushing him in many events, Sajan Prakash managed to hold his own and reminded everyone that he is still one of the best swimmers in the country.

Published : Oct 13, 2022 18:37 IST , THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Sajan Prakash won eight medals, which included five individual gold, two silver and one bronze at the National Games. 
Sajan Prakash won eight medals, which included five individual gold, two silver and one bronze at the National Games.  | Photo Credit: THE HINDU
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Sajan Prakash won eight medals, which included five individual gold, two silver and one bronze at the National Games.  | Photo Credit: THE HINDU

Seven years after his sensational debut at the National Games in Kerala, Sajan Prakash has once again relived the best moments of his career at the Sardar Patel Aquatic complex in Rajkot during the Gujarat National Games 2022.

Sajan won eight medals, which included five individual gold, two silver and one bronze at the National Games. 

But winning back-to-back awards as the best athlete of the National Games was not something that Sajan had expected, especially when he didn’t have the best of starts to his campaign due to injury. 

“After the Commonwealth Games, I was thinking of taking rest but the National Games was announced suddenly and there was no way I was going to miss it. National Games is always special to me. As Kerala’s best medal hope , I was looking to participate in as many events and was not looking at the timings.

I am satisfied with my performance and eight medals is not bad considering that I wasn’t fully fit. I had a pain in my lower abdomen and it affected my performance in the first three days. It is great to win the best athlete award again though I must say I wasn’t expecting it,” he said.

With a young bunch of swimmers pushing him in many events, Sajan managed to hold his own and reminded everyone that he is still one of the best swimmers in the country.

“It feels great to be consistent. Moreover, it is good to understand that I’m still strong aerobically and that I am strong in other events as well apart from my favourite butterfly events,’‘ said the 29-year-old Sajan. 

Though he still remains one of the fittest swimmers around, Sajan said it was important for him to take a break and rest his shoulders.

“There will be no competitions for me this year. I will be focusing on my wellness. I have to take care of my shoulders. I want to recover and rejuvenate myself before I start thinking of qualifying for the Asian Games,’‘ he said.

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