Madhya Pradesh’s pride, Shri Satendra Singh Lohia, has been nationally recognized for his extraordinary achievements in para swimming, becoming a symbol of courage, perseverance, and sporting excellence in India.
Despite living with a locomotor disability, Shri Lohia has defied physical limitations to become India’s first para swimmer to cross the English Channel as part of a relay team, and has continued to set national and international records in long-distance open water swimming.
Shri Lohia has:
- Successfully completed the English Channel relay in 2019, creating history for Indian para athletes
- Crossed other global challenges including the Catalina Channel in the U.S.
- Represented India in several international para swimming events
- Championed awareness around accessibility and inclusion in sports
His journey began in a small village in Bhind district, and his rise to global recognition stands as a testament to sheer willpower and discipline.
“Disability is not the end — it’s the beginning of a new challenge,” says Shri Lohia, who has inspired thousands of athletes, especially in rural India, to take up sports irrespective of physical barriers.
He also actively advocates for greater support and recognition for para sports in India.
With this recognition, Shri Satendra Singh Lohia joins the ranks of India’s greatest para-athletes, not just for breaking records, but for breaking barriers — and redefining what is possible through determination, strength, and hope.
