It was a self-imposed lockdown by Khajan Singh Tokas that propelled him to a podium finish at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul when he won the silver in 200m butterfly.
“It was a lockdown indeed. This is for a national cause to fight COVID-19. What I experienced was my hard work in search of an Asian Games medal, a recognition for swimming which was so close to my heart,” Khajan told Sportstar as he relived one of the glorious moments in Indian sports.
Having begun his illustrious career with a 100m butterfly bronze at the 1979 Trivandrum junior nationals, Khajan took seven more years to reach the zenith of his swimming story which began in humble surroundings of Munirka Village in south Delhi. “It was a small pond near the Baba Ganganath Mandir where I developed my love for swimming,” said Khajan.
The lockdown phase for Khajan Singh began at the training camp for the Asian Games. “I was determined that I have to win a medal at Seoul. My swimming fraternity wanted me to achieve something and the intensity of doing something took me to Newcastle (in Australia) where I trained with (coach) Eric Arnold for ten months.”
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