My recent wins made me feel I've made a good comeback: Niranjan Mukundan

An injury forced para swimmer Niranjan Mukundan to miss the 2024 Paralympics, but that is just a small detour in his journey, not a permanent setback, he shares, after he won 2 silvers and 1 bronze medal at the Bergen Swim festival 2025, in Norway. He was also in Spain for World Series qualifications just days before that. He speaks to us about the importance of patience during an injury, the power of teamwork and representing India on a global platform. Excerpts:
‘IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO REST AFTER AN INJURY’
When I realised I would not be able to participate in the Paralympics last year, I accepted my fate but decided to rest it out, do rehab and then start practice only after I was cleared to do so. Rushing into practice to prove a point will only result in more damage, and that’s one thing that I did not want to do. For the international competitions in April, I started practising by December, and I am pleased with the progress I’ve made.
‘REPRESENTING INDIA GLOBALLY IS ALWAYS A RESPONSIBILITY’
When I participate in competitions, I am representing my country, and that is a huge responsibility. Medals are just like an additional validation, but I always aim to go and give my 100 per cent. That’s also something I’ve been taught to do, from the get-go. There is always pressure to win, but that is as much an internal battle as it is external. Every time I go for a competition, I make sure to do my best; the rest is up to fate. The results don’t matter as much as the efforts do.
‘I HAVE TRAVELLED TO 47 COUNTRIES AND THE TRAVEL BUFF IN ME IS ECSTATIC’
I love travelling. Finland was my 47th country, and after the competition, I took a week off to chase the Northern Lights, and that led me to the northernmost part of Finland. I also made sure to indulge in authentic Finnish experiences like husky and reindeer sledging. Honestly, all of this is a oncein-a-lifetime experience.
‘I HAVE PICKED UP ON FARMING AS A HOBBY, NOW’
Parents always tell you about the simple life they’ve led, and for years, my dad used to tell me how he used to have a farm where he had animals and plants and that he used to take care of it at some point. So, I wondered if I could give it a try. Now, I have a farm about 70 km from Bengaluru where I’ve managed to grow about 150 varieties of fruits, including exotic ones like Miyazaki mangoes from Japan, Guavas from Thailand, and more. I actually travelled to all these places and got the plants and seeds, which I planted in the farm.