Five-km route completed in around 45 minutes on steep hills, rubble, and sharp slopes under guidance of bikers honking to alert them
The young skaters felicitated for completing the marathon. Pics/By Special Arrangement
Mumba’s quartet of visually impaired skaters and their coach have become the first such athletes to participate in Nepal’s 1st National Inline Skating Marathon. The 5-km event, held on hilly terrain instead of a skating rink, saw nearly 300 participants — but only four were visually impaired: Nishi Jariwala, Shubham Singh, Aftab Patel and Shivani Bandichode, all in their early twenties. The group, trained by the National Association for the Blind (NAB) and Turning Point Specially Abled Skating Association, completed the route in 30-45 minutes and was felicitated on December 6.
Sushant Chowgule, coach
The marathon tested balance and courage alike. Participants had to manoeuvre slopes, rubble, and uneven paths. The group was guided by organisers riding ahead on motorbikes, honking to alert them to potholes or sudden dips. The Nepal trip also became the students’ first experience of air travel. “We never imagined we’d get to fly before our own families. In Nepal, we travelled independently, and the locals supported us at every step,” they told mid-day.
Practise laps
With skating still unfamiliar territory for the visually impaired, they trained by holding hands, calling out cues, or skating in pairs with their folded white canes. Finding a rink was the biggest challenge. “We were turned away from several rinks in Mumbai. Owners feared injuries and made us sign bizarre waivers. But falling is part of learning any sport,” said coach Sushant Chowgule. Chowgule, who is partially blind himself, eventually trained them on the Western Express Highway — skating from Borivli to Goregaon at dawn. “Everyone, even the police, thought we were crazy. Now that we've achieved this milestone, the same people cheer for us,” he said. The group now practises in Malad and has access to a few skating rinks.
Achievers speak
Nishi Jariwala, 22 (Partially blind with 25 per cent vision)
“Speed skating is just the beginning — I want to become a figure skater one day. I grew up playing with skates at home and in my building. My vision keeps deteriorating with age, so I keep adapting my training techniques.”
Shubham Singh, 24 (Completely blind)
“I had normal vision until 2015, when retinal detachment symptoms began. An operation in 2018 went wrong, and I lost my sight. Before that, I played kabaddi, cricket and many sports. Skating and the blind community helped me reconnect with that part of myself. I was terrified of falling, but with support, I’ve learned to move ahead.”
Shivani Bandichode, 22 (Completely blind)
“My family was scared I’d get hurt, and in school with sighted students, sports were never encouraged. Over time, I started believing I’d fall and injure myself, too. Then a friend introduced me to Nishi, and skating slowly erased my fears. Now my mindset has changed — the worst is a minor fall, but the confidence I gain is far greater.”
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