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Anandan Gunasekaran

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Anandan Gunasekaran
Personal information
Birth nameAnandan Gunasekaran
NationalityIndian
Born (1987-03-18) 18 March 1987 (age 37)
Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu India
Height177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight69 kg (152 lb)
Sport
CountryIndia
SportTrack and field
Event(s)100m, 200m, 400m
Turned pro2014
Medal record
Men's track and field
Representing India
Military World Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Wuhan 100m
Gold medal – first place 2019 Wuhan 200m
Gold medal – first place 2019 Wuhan 400m
National Para Athletics Championships 2018[1]
Gold medal – first place Panchkula 200m
Silver medal – second place Panchkula 400m
World Para Grand Prix 2017[2]
Silver medal – second place Dubai 400m

Anandan Gunasekaran (born 18 March 1987; Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu) is an Indian track and field para-athletics runner who competes in the men's 100m, 200m and 400m events in the T64 category.[3][4][5][6] He has participated at many international events. In 2018, he represented India at the Asian Para Games 2018 which was held in Jakarta, Indonesia from 6 to 13 October 2018 and won silver in the 400 meters and bronze in the 200 meters.[3] He is the first athlete in the country to have won 3 gold medals in the Military World Games 2019 held in Wuhan, China,[3][7] first Asian blade runner to create a new Asian record of completing 400m race in 52.66s at the 2018 National Open Para-Athletic Championship.[8]

In 2016, Anandan set a new Asian record in the men's 400m by clocking 54.67s at the 2016 Asian Para Athletics Championships.[9][10] He is also the first Indian blade runner to create two Asian records in the 400m.[11] He was an abled body athlete before he lost a leg in an explosion that occurred along the LoC.[5][7]

Early life

Anandan was born in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu on 18 March, 1987.[3][5] As a 3 year old, he used to actively run around his kindergarten school Shankara Vidyala School. In grade 6 in Native Higher Secondary School, he had secured the first prize in 800m and 1500m race.[12][13][14]

Born into a poor family, Anandan used to distribute newspapers to financially contribute to his father's income.[15] One day, his cycle was punctured, so he continued the job running.[13] It started as a fun activity, but he was soon running at state and national level events.[12] By the twelfth standard, Anandan was all in as a serious runner. Inspired by the story of Indian soldiers at Kargil War, Anandan went into the army.[15] In a training camp in Banglore, he ran a 12 km track which got him into the army's team. However, sports needed plenty of nutritional supplements, and on his salary, Anandan struggled to get it. But he continued to participate in racing competitions and brought the country numerous prizes.[12]

In 2008, he was posted in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. He got injured in an explosion that took place along the Line of Control (LoC) and lost a leg.[16][7][17] In 2012, Anandan ran 2.5 km in 9 min 58 sec in Mumbai marathon disabled category.[13][18]

Career

Anandan represented India at the 2017 IPC World Para Athletics Championships in London.[19] He also represented India at the 2019 Military World Games and claimed three gold medals in athletics events.[20]

Achievements

International competitions

Representing  India
Year Competition Venue Position Event
2014 International Paralympic Grand Prix of 2014 Tunisia, Africa 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 100 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 200 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 4x100 m relay
2014 Asian Para Games Incheon, South Korea 6th 100 m
6th 200 m
2015 Sri Lanka Army Para Games 2015 Colombo, Sri Lanka 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 100 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 200 m
2015 Military World Games Mungyeong, South Korea 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 100 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 200 m
2016 Asia Oceania Para Athletics Championship 2016 Dubai 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 200 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 400 m
2017 Faza International Grand Prix of 2017 Dubai 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 400 m
2017 World Para Athletics Championships London, United Kingdom 8th 400 m
2018 Fazza International Athletics Championship Dubai 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 200 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 400 m
Sharjah International Athletics Grand Prix 2018 Dubai 1st place, gold medalist(s) 100 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 200 m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 400 m
2018 Asian Para Games Jakarta, Indonesia 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 200 m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 400 m
2019 World Para Athletics Grand Prix Paris, France 1st place, gold medalist(s) 200 m
7th CISM World Military Games Wuhan, China 1st place, gold medalist(s) 100 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 200 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 400 m

National competitions

Year Competition Venue Position Event
2015 Senior Para National Athletic Championship Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 1st place, gold medalist(s) 100 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 200 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 400 m
2017 17th Senior Para National Athletic Championship Jaipur, Rajasthan 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 100 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 400 m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 4x100 m relay
1st place, gold medalist(s) 4x400
2018 18th Senior Para National Athletic Championship Panchkula, Haryana 1st place, gold medalist(s) 200 m
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 400 m
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 4x100 m relay
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 4x400 m relay
Indian Open Para Athletic Championship Bangalore, Karnataka 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 100 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 200 m
1st place, gold medalist(s) 400 m

References

  1. ^ Codingest. "Results - Paralympic Committee of India". paralympicindia.org.in.
  2. ^ "Army's Anandan Gunasekaran Wins 400m World Para GP Silver". The Times of India.
  3. ^ a b c d Prasad, G. (14 May 2020). "Gutsy Anandan eyes Tokyo Paralympics". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  4. ^ Dutt, Tushar. "Army's Anandan Gunasekaran Wins 400m World Para GP Silver | More sports News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Rao, Mohit M. (12 October 2015). "Lance Naik Anandan returns with rich haul". The Hindu.
  6. ^ Mathews, Moni. "Gunasekaran, Karan scorch tracks on wet, cold day". Khaleej Times.
  7. ^ a b c Judge, Shahid (30 October 2019). "After losing leg at LoC, blade runner toasts second life – with triple gold". The Indian Express. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Para-athlete Anandan Gunasekaran bags two gold medals at World Military Games". Scroll.in. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Hero's welcome for para-athlete Anandan". sportstar.thehindu.com. 14 March 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Gunasekaran and Karan scorch tracks on wet, cold day". Khalij Times. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Four Asian Records Fall in Dubai, UAE". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  12. ^ a b c "Anandan Gunasekaran: The Blade Runner". Real Unsung Heroes. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  13. ^ a b c Dash, Debi (5 November 2020). "Anandan Gunasekaran: India's Army Man Turned Blade Runner". THE BASTION. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Know Your Heroes | Anandan Gunasekaran - The Blade Runner". sportscafe.in. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  15. ^ a b "With one leg, Subedar Anandan conquers the world". Deccan Herald. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  16. ^ Rajagopal, Rashim (22 November 2015). "A paramount blade runner". Deccan Chronicle.
  17. ^ Dream, My Indian. "Anandan Gunasekaran wins silver at World Para GP". My Indian Dream. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Not 'Dis'-abled but 'Super'-abled army officer clinches golds at the Wuhan Para games in China". BookOfAchievers. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Ankur Dhama". indusind.com.
  20. ^ "Anandan Gunasekaran - Profile 2019 Military World Games". wuhan2019. Archived from the original on 28 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.

Further readings

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