Twin gold for local autistic boy in swimming c’ship

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 1

Local boy Bhavik Atwal, who has been suffering from autism, has bagged twin gold at a national-level swimming championship held in Pune from August 25 to 26.

The 12-year-old swimmer bagged the medals in

in 50m freestyle and 25 m freestyle category. The national-level swimming competition was held for children suffering from autistic and down syndrome.

Bhavik’s father Vikram Atwal said, “I have been making all-out efforts so that my son could participate in various championships. With his participation, he gets trained in swimming and can play in the World Olympics that is going to be held next year. He has been practicing hard for it.”

Bhavik has also won a silver medal during the 20th Punjab State Special Olympics and in the national-level Special Olympic Bharat Maharashtra National Championship 2016, he also bagged a medal in the 25m freestyle event.

However, his family is worried due to huge expenditure on his treatment.

Bhavik’s father Vikram Atwal runs a small dhaba in Maqsuda. “I earn a meagre amount between Rs10,000 and Rs15,000, but we have to spend Rs40,000 on his treatment,” he added.

“I am in dire need of money so that my son gets better with time and gets a chance to play in the World Olympics. He is practising hard so that he can qualify for it,” said the father.

Apart from swimming, he likes painting and singing. He can also solve puzzles easily. “I don’t want my child to stop anywhere in his life due to financial constraints,” Atwal added.