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Satendra Lohiya says, 'Hardest battle was not the waves -it was building a team'

On February 12, India’s Satendra Singh Lohiya became the first Asian para-swimmer to cross New Zealand’s Cook Strait, completing the 24 km open-water challenge despite harsh weather, icy currents and a last-minute team collapse. “I never accepted feeling disabled; I have always believed there is nothing I cannot do,” he said while talking to Mid-Day. Para-swimmer Satendra Singh Lohiya with Prime Minister Narendra Modi Adversity made me stronger While the icy waters and harsh weather tested his endurance, the toughest battle was assembling a team in a country he had never set foot in. After years of mental and physical preparation before flying to New Zealand, events did not unfold as he had hoped. His first attempt ended in heartbreak when members of his relay team withdrew midway, leaving his dream seemingly shattered in the middle of the challenge. “My dreams were breaking before my eyes,” Satendra recalled. “But instead of returning home defeated, I chose to fight back.” With no relay team to help him complete the circuit in a distant corner of the world, Lohiya demonstrated that success demands far more than passion and grit. Within hours of speaking to more than a hundred swimmers in New Zealand, he managed to assemble a new support team on a continent he had never visited before. Sue Mellsop, Andy McDonagh, Deb Hambly, Ellen Wellington and Brett Richardson from Wellington stood by him, helping him regroup and prepare for another attempt. This time, there was no turning back. The biggest hurdle... Lohiya had trained for years for the attempt, but his initial plan fell apart when his relay support team withdrew midway. Satendra Singh Lohiya during his successful Cook Strait crossing in New Zealand “The toughest part of the Cook Strait was not the distance, nor the harsh weather or cold waters; it was building a new team in a country I had never been to,” he said. “After being left almost alone with only a few members of my original team, it was my pilot in New Zealand who helped me find swimmers willing to support my crossing.” Acknowledging the role his new teammates played, Lohiya added, “New Zealand is one of the best countries in the world, not just because of its scenic beauty, but because of its people, who are always ready to help without hesitation. If I had not found those five swimmers in Wellington, my dream of crossing the Cook Strait would have remained incomplete.” From Bhind to Wellington  Born with both legs, Lohiya lost them just months later due to alleged medical negligence. What could have extinguished a dream instead of igniting one. As a child, he found freedom in the water, taking his first strokes in a local river near his village. Even when people told him that sports were “not meant” for someone like him, he quietly made a promise to himself that he would conquer the waters. Speaking to Mid-day while waiting for his flight back home from New Zealand, Lohiya reflected on his journey. “Even though every person and every minute made me feel that I was disabled, I never accepted it. I have always believed there is nothing I cannot do,” he said. After completing his schooling, he moved to Gwalior to pursue professional training. Money was scarce, support was limited and doubts were constant. Yet, with every obstacle, his resolve only strengthened. His first major breakthrough came at the 10th National Paralympic Swimming Championship, where he won a bronze medal — a moment that reaffirmed he was on the right path. In 2014, he was honoured with the ‘Vikram Award’ by the Madhya Pradesh government, presented by then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Mumbai: A breakthrough in Satendra’s career  Until then, Lohiya had competed only in traditional Paralympic-style 50m and 100m swimming events. However, the city of dreams introduced him to something he had never imagined, sea swimming. When he arrived in Mumbai to participate in his first open sea swimming competition organised by the Indian Navy, he experienced a turning point. “I was a short-distance swimmer. That swim in Mumbai opened the doors to sea swimming for me,” he said, recalling the moment that reshaped his sporting ambitions. International waters awaited Lohiya  Soon, his ambitions expanded beyond Indian shores. After becoming a decorated para-athlete by completing almost every cross-country swimming circuit in India, he registered for the prestigious 32 km English Channel challenge, one of the most demanding open-water swims in the world. The cost of such cross-country swims — often between Rs 15 and 20 lakh — posed a major hurdle. It was then that Tata Trusts stepped in to support him financially in 2018.  “While no one believed in me, Tata Trust showed faith by helping me financially,” Lohiya said, adding that he not only completed the English Channel swim but also created a record.  Satendra Lohiya honoured with Padma Shri in 2024   After dominating international waters in cross-country swimming across numerous national and global competitions, para swimmer Satendra Lohiya was conferred the prestigious Padma Shri in 2024. The award was presented by President Droupadi Murmu in recognition of his outstanding achievements and inspirational contribution to Indian sports.   Expressing his feeling on being honoured by the President and meeting the Prime Minister, Lohiya said, “That day holds a very special place in my heart. When I started, I always had the belief in myself. However, this was something that I never thought of; those few moments still feel like a dream.”   Achievement Swimmer: Satendra Singh Lohiya, 38Distance: 24 kmLocation: Cook Strait, New ZealandDate: February 12Historic first: First Asian para-swimmer to complete the crossing The struggles of India’s para-athletes  When asked about the broader challenges faced by para-athletes in India, Lohiya spoke candidly. “Sports authorities in India do not prioritise para-athletes. Many of us travelling abroad get stuck in immigration or visa clearances, which sometimes causes us to miss our events,” he said. “All a para-athlete in India seeks is proper guidance from sports officials so that we can smoothly complete immigration formalities and travel across the globe to fulfil the dreams we work towards every day,” Padma Shri awardee Satendra Lohiya added. Despite winning national medals, Lohiya received no structured support from the state, reflecting the absence of a clear policy for para-athletes at the time. He wrote multiple letters to the Social Justice Ministry and the Sports and Youth Welfare Department of Madhya Pradesh, but received no response. In 2015, he went a step further, filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Jabalpur High Court and submitting several RTI applications. It was only after his historic English Channel triumph that the government took note. In March 2019, Madhya Pradesh introduced a policy recognising para-athletes in registered competitions and awarding them on par with able-bodied athletes — a significant move toward greater equality in Indian sport. New Zealand support team >> Sue Mellsop>> Andy McDonagh>> Deb Hambly>> Ellen Wellington>> Brett Richardson>> “The toughest part was not the cold or distance, but rebuilding a team in a country I had never been to,” Lohiya said. Cost of chasing global dreams >> Long-distance international swims can cost Rs 15-20 lakh, often funded through sponsorships or personal loans.>> Lohiya said financial backing from Tata Trusts helped him attempt global challenges. Why Cook Strait is so difficult Distance: About 24 kmWater temperature: Often near freezingCurrents: Among the world’s strongest tidal flowsWeather: Sudden winds and rough seas>> Named after British explorer Captain James Cook, the strait separates New Zealand’s North and South Islands and is considered one of the toughest open-water swims globally