Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash has been to hell and back at the Asian Games, competing in Jakarta while family members went missing in severe flooding in his home country.
The 24-year-old became the first swimmer to reach last weekend’s 200 metres butterfly final despite the knowledge that five relatives had not been found and his family home in Kerala had been destroyed by floodwater.
Prakash finished outside the medals in fifth, but his prayers were answered after an uncle called to inform him his family members had survived the devastating floods in the southern Indian state that have killed more than 350 people.
“I had trouble sleeping, thinking about my family,” Prakash told AFP.
“I hadn’t heard from them because they were cut off from the (phone) network and not able to contact us,” he added.
“I was very nervous but my uncle called to say they’re all safe and everything is alright back home.”
Prakash’s mother Shantymol, who is based in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, initially kept news of the disaster from her son so he could concentrate on his performances at the regional Olympics.