Umesh, a deaf and dumb swimmer and national record holder, from Belagavi has been selected for the Indian contingent to represent the nation at the ‘8th Asia Pacific Deaf Games’ slated to be held from October 3 to 11 at Taoyuan, Taiwan, Chinese Taipei.
Umesh, son of Rudrappa and Mahadevi Khade, is among the 25-member Indian contingent selected by the All India Sports Council of The Deaf for International Competitions in swimming, basketball and badminton events.
Umesh, who is a member of the Swimmers’ Club and Aquarius Swim Club, Belagavi, will compete in three events — 50m, 100m and 200m breast stroke.
He has already represented India twice in international competitions and has won 24 national medals — 10 gold, 4 silver and 10 bronze medals. He holds a national record in 50m, 100m and 200m breast stroke events for deaf swimmers for the past three years.
According to his coach Umesh Kalghatgi, Umesh took to swimming in 2004 during a swimming coaching camp conducted for people with disabilities organised by the two swim clubs in the city then.
He hails from an agricultural family and is presently working at the Rotary Corporation Sports Academy’s Swimming Pool and stays in a small room provided by the academy.
