19-year-old Divyang Niti excelled in 14 categories of swimming; Received the National Award for Best Divyangjan at the youngest age in the state

Rajkot's young para-swimmer Neeti Rathod has won the President's Award. She is the only daughter of Gujarat to receive the highest award as the best divyangjan at the age of just 19. This para-swimmer, who beats mental disabilities, is swimming in a wonderful way that makes even swimmers laugh. When the girl, who is well versed in 14 categories of swimming, was 7 years old, her parents decided to teach her swimming due to her heavy attachment to water. Later, parents approached Vipul Bhatt, who was doing the service of teaching free swimming to divyang children, and Niti, who had Down syndrome, started learning swimming. Later at the age of 10, Neeti secured first place in the district and state level Special Olympics. The journey of this daughter reached the national level. Therefore, it was decided to give this daughter the highest honor at the national level and on December 3 in Delhi, Neeti was awarded the Best Divyangjan Award by President Draupadi Murmu. The very next day, she reached the International Selection in Chennai. In this selection game for the Asian Games and Paralympics, he has won a gold medal and made his family and Rajkot proud. Niti, who is a role model for divyang children, has a dream to make India proud by winning a gold medal in the world's best Paralympic Games. Nitin was attached to water, so he chose swimming: Father Father Rakesh Rathod said, "My daughter Neeti has Down syndrome. In the year 2012, he started swimming. We knew from birth that my daughter had this kind of problem. So from the beginning, we were thinking about what skill he likes that will improve his development. Usually this kind of children are not accepted by anyone in the society. But if we develop his skills, he will also develop and the society will also get a good contribution. Nitin was very attached to water from the beginning. She played a lot in the water, so we thought of finding a game that would have fun with the water. So in 2012, we met coach Vipulbhai Bhatt, who had been running a sevayagna to train such children since 2007. 'In 2014, Neeti participated in the Khel Mahakumbh for the first time' He added that after the year 2012, he started learning swimming from coaches. After this, in the year 2014, Neeti participated in the Khel Mahakumbh for the first time. Along with this, he came first in Rajkot in the Special Olympics. So later, Neeti was sent forward for different competitions. In the Special Olympics, Rajkot was selected first, then up to the state and national level. But at that time the daughter was young, so she could not be sent. President of India conferred the best divyang award Niti started participating in the Paralympics since it started in 2021. The latter is most recently the Best Divyang Award of December 3 which is considered to be the National Award. Which was awarded by President Draupadi Murmu. At that time, he also had an event in Chennai, which was an international selection for the Asian Games, Paralympics and World Olympics. In which Neeti has also won 2 gold medals. Right now, Neeti Dho. Studying in 11th. It is Nitish's dream to make India proud by bringing a gold medal in the Paralympics. For which she is currently preparing. 250 differently abled children trained: Coach Vipul Bhatt, who has been serving as chief instructor at Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Snanagar in Rajkot Municipal Corporation and has been coaching swimming for the last 34 years, said that since 2007, he has started sevayagya to make divyang children practice swimming free of cost. So far, about 250 divyang children have been trained, but in the year 2019, Jitendrabhai Harkhani, who won two gold medals in the Olympics. She has received the Bal Pratibha Puraskar from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the other daughter is Niti Rakeshbhai Rathod, who has received the National Award from the President. This girl has been learning swimming from me since 2012. Neeti started swimming in 2012 Niti Rathod was born in 2005 to Tejalben and teacher Rakeshbhai Rathod, who live in Rajkot. She was born with intellectual disability-down syndrome. But her determination and passion for swimming has inspired her to achieve remarkable achievements in sports. She is fond of swimming and started swimming in the year 2012. Neeti started developing her skills and her swimming technique under the guidance of Vipul Bhatt, a trained coach at the Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Swimming Pool in Rajkot. Neeti became a role model for divyang children Neeti showed a natural passion for swimming when she first dived into the pool. Nithi's entry into swimming is driven by a desire to overcome personal challenges and adopt the sport as a tool of empowerment. Despite facing numerous challenges, Niti has never allowed her disability to restrict her definition or her abilities. Instead, she accepted water as her field where she could showcase her true potential. Not only has she progressed in her game but she has also become an example 'para swimmer' and a role model for divyang children. Niti's achievements in the field of swimming are phenomenal. Neeti resonates the name of Rajkot as well as Saurashtra Niti is the only para swimmer in the S-14 category in the entire Rajkot, Saurashtra and Gujarat. Which has made the name of Rajkot as well as Saurashtra echo with his skill and hard work at the national level. Neeti Rathod is an inspiration and example for every child and parent who has suffered from some disability. Niti Rathod, who has Down syndrome, has shown us that limitations exist only in the minds of those who believe in it. His stunning achievements in swimming have not only elevated his own life, but have also inspired many others to believe in their own abilities and pursue their dreams endlessly. The story of Niti Rathod is a shining example for all of us. First para swimmer to receive the best Divyangjan award at the youngest age Recently, on December 3, 2024, he was selected for the National Award for the Best Divyangjan and was honoured in the Best Divyangjan (Mental Disability Section) by President Draupadi Murmu. This is considered to be a great achievement for any divyangjan. Neeti Rathod is the first para swimmer to receive the honour in the youngest mental disability department in the entire state. Since 2013, she has participated in many competitions held at the local level, state level and national level. Niti's high flying form achievements Year 2015: Participated in district level competition organized by SOG (Special Olympics Gujarat). Location: Rajkot Event: Freestyle 25m and 50m- First place in Rajkot Year 2015: Participated in the state level competition organized by SOG (Special Olympics Gujarat). Location: Anand Event: Freestyle 25m- First Place Event: Freestyle 50m- First Place Year 2018: Participated in the national level competition organized by Rotary Club of Chinchwad Pune and SOB (Special Olympics India). Venue: Chinchwad, Pune Event: Freestyle 50m - First place (Gold Medal) Event: Butterfly Style 50m - Third Place (Bronze Medal) Year 2019: Khel Mahakumbh State Level Competition Location: Rajkot Event: Freestyle 100m- Second Place Event: Butterfly 100m- Secured Second Place Event: Backstroke 100m- Second Place Secured Year 2020 & 2021: Covid Pandemic - No Competition Year 2022: XXI-National Paralympic Competition Organized Paralympic Committee of India Venue: Udaipur- Rajasthan Event: Backstroke Style 100m- Second Place (Silver Medal) Event: Butterfly 100m- First Place (Gold Medal) Year 2022: Selection for the Special Olympic Bharat Special Olympics India Competition. Year 2022: August 15, 2022- Honoured by the Sports Department, Government of Gujarat in the presence of Jitu Vaghani (Minister of Education- State of Gujarat) and other dignitaries. Year 2023: The Paralympic Committee of India organized the XXII-National Paralympic Competition Venue: Guwahati- Assam Event: Butterfly Style 100m - First Place (Gold Medal) Event: Freestyle 200m - Second Place (Silver Medal) Event: Individual Middle (IM) Style 200m- First Place (Gold Medal) Year 2023: 26th January 2023 - By the Sports Department of the Government of Gujarat - Shankarsinh Chaudhary - (Assembly Speaker - Gujarat State) and other dignitaries were felicitated by a letter of honour in the presence of the District Republic Day celebration at Dhoraji. Year 2024: XXIII - Paralympic Committee of India organized the National Paralympic Competition Venue: Gwalior- Madhya Pradesh Event: Butterfly Style 100m - Second Place (Silver Medal) Year 2024: 15th August 2024 - The Sports Department of the Government of Gujarat - at the district level celebration at Lodhika - was felicitated by a letter of honour in the presence of the District Collector and other dignitaries. Year 2024: XXIV - Paralympic Committee of India organizing the National Paralympic Competition Venue: Panaji- Goa Event: Butterfly Style 100m 1st Place (Gold Medal) Freestyle 100m- 2nd Place (Silver Medal) Year 2024: Saivas India Open National Swimming Competition- 2024 Location: Chennai- Tamil Nadu Event: Butterfly Style 200m- 1st Place (Gold Medal) Freestyle 200m- 1st Place (Gold Medal) Year 2024: On December 3, 2024, he was honoured with the National Award in the Best Divyangjan (Mental Disability) category by President Droupadi Murmu. This is considered to be a great achievement for any divyangjan.