Kolkata swimmer tides over odds with his strength of grit

Kolkata, Aug 5 (ANI): Masudur Rahaman Baidya, a specially abled swimmer in Kolkata, who already has swim across English Channel, now aims to cross the Palk Strait.

Forty-year-old Baidya lost both his legs in an accident when he was just 11 but the incident failed to dent his confidence.

Baidya crossed the English Channel in 1997 and is hopeful that he would be able to swim across the Palk Strait successfully in 10-12 hours despite it being a difficult venture, as it would have more current for being surrounded with Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

"No doubt how much tough it is, I will work hard and get through it (Palk Strait) just like English Channel," Baidya said.

Baidya, was the first handicapped swimmer from Asia and the second in the world to cross the English Channel.

Baidya, has fought many odds but finds it hard to fight the mentality of the people who despite all his success call him a disabled.

"If someone sponsors me then I can even aim for the Himalayas and I am doing all this to dispel the word handicaped attached to my name. No one should call me handicapped as I am not depending on anybody and I do all my works on my own." He added.

Baidya, was very fond of football but after the accident when he joined friends with artificial limbs, he was marginalized. He found his calling when he won gold in a swimming competition during a sports event. Since then there has been, no looking back for Baidya. By Ajitha Menon (ANI)