Bandra resident Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh, whose life centered around karate, was taken by a storm when he was diagnosed with a tumor in his spine. A black belt holder and a qualified coach with over 40 gold medals to his credit, the mechanical engineer didn’t give up on his life even after being paralyzed and decided to participate in the tournament.

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After going through a lot of surgeries, his lower body got paralyzed. But last Saturday he braced the sea and his immobility at Candolim beach in Goa to break his own record for the longest open sea swimming by a paraplegic.

"I expected to complete the distance in two or two-and-half hours, but I had to swim against a very strong tide for a larger part of the course," Shaikh said after completing the belt in 4 hours and 4 minutes.

"I was assessed with 100% disability in 2012. I didn't even have control over passing urine. Swimming the butterfly helped me a lot and today I don't need a catheter to relieve myself. This is a huge achievement for me and I was assessed as having 72% disability during the latest review, all because of swimming," he told TOI on the sidelines of the first ever wheelchair accessible beach festival being held at the Candolim beach. It was swimming that helped him overcome depression and improve his mobility.

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"People with disabilities should motivate themselves to come out of their homes, but for this we need the government's support to make spaces, buildings and transportation accessible," he said. It’s really impressive and inspiring to see his courage and the positivity that he has in his life.