For 48-year-old
Nanditta Kapoor, being competitive is a way of life. So, it didn’t come as much of a surprise when this mother of a three-time national swimming champ decided to take part in the Asia Pacific Masters Games 2018 that was held in
Malaysia last month. What was, however, a surprise is the number of medals she won at the event.
FOUR GOLDS, ONE SILVER AND ONE BRONZE MEDAL
Nanditta’s aim at the Asia Pacific Masters Games 2018 was to be in the top 10 in the world; she never thought that she would even reach the podium. She says, “I thought that after two years, I’ll head to the top five, and in five years, I would win a medal for the country. I participated in five events — 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly, 200m freestyle and 400m individual medley. The 50m butterfly was just for practice, because I am not a sprinter. I bagged a bronze in that race. I actually wanted to bunk the second event, 200m freestyle, but I eventually did and got a silver medal. That’s when I was pepped up and regained my focus. What followed was gold in 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly (which, she says, is the toughest event of any meet) and 400m individual medley. The fourth gold was for the mixed relay. This was my five-year plan (laughs).”
TRAINING HARD, GIVING UP, YET PUSHING ON
Nanditta started training for the Asia Pacific Masters Games only six months before the event, which included five days of swimming and hitting the gym. “I quit a few times, as I was getting tired trying to balance this with looking after my daughter, Vanya, and running the house. But my daughter and coach Manjunath didn’t give up on me. They kept pushing me and telling me that I am not a quitter. Manjunath trains young kids, so during practice, I would swim 2.5 kms with children aged 10-16 years, then hit the gym for one hour of strength and conditioning, all the while battling an old wrist injury. It wasn’t easy,” says Nanditta, who adds that since the competition, she has been shifted to the men’s lane in the pool, which pushes her to do better.
THE MISCONCEPTION OF AGE
There is a common belief that sports is for the young, and not something you take up after a certain age. But this was never a thought that crossed Nanditta’s mind. “I’m very competitive and have played sports my entire life. I enjoy competing and need something to aim for, otherwise I find life boring. Yes, the age limitation might be there for certain sports, but that’s not the case with swimming, as it is the least harmful on your body. But you need to be determined,” she says. While Nanditta first swam when she was six-months-old, she took to the sport again at the age of 42.
BACK IN THE POOL FOR NATIONALS
Nanditta hasn’t had much time to celebrate her laurels, as she was back in the pool the day she returned from Malaysia, to practice for the 15th National Masters Championships 2018 that is to be held later this month in
Visakhapatnam. Given her recent performance, and the fact that
Karnataka swimmers are among the best in the country, Nanditta is sure that she will do well. “Nationals are easier now that I have trained a lot. But my main events are not there — in India, it stops at 100m butterfly, but my main event is 200m butterfly. The individual medley here stops at 200m, but I am good in 400m because my endurance is high,” she says, adding that her next big goal is the
FINA World Swimming Championships 2020, for which she will train only for 200m butterfly and 400m individual medley.
