Aahil wins four gold medals, sets two national meet records

Panaji: Aahil Sheikh put up an exceptional performance at the National Deaf Senior Swimming Championship 2026 at the Sardar Patel Stadium swimming pool, Ahmedabad, recently.

Representing the Goa Sports Council for the Deaf, the Goan swimmer secured four gold medals and set two new National Meet Records (NMRs).

The champion swimmer’s gold medals came in 1500m freestyle (NMR), 800m freestyle, 400m freestyle and 200m freestyle (NMR).

“Aahil’s success is a testament to his relentless dedication, discipline, and passion for swimming. His journey has been guided by his dynamic coach, Sir Sujith TA, at the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence, Panaji,” his family said in a statement on Sunday.

The championship was organised by the All India Sports Council of the Deaf, Delhi, and hosted by the Gujarat Sports Council of the Deaf.

Last year, Aahil, 17, became the first Goan to qualify for the Deaflympics, an international multi-sport event for deaf athletes held every four years. He punched his ticket to Tokyo after achieving the qualification mark in 1500m freestyle during the competition-cum-trials.

As a child, Aahil was hyperactive, so close friends suggested that swimming could calm him down. “He could not hear anything, could not listen to us. We decided on swimming, but he was very scared of water. Slowly he started liking it. There were many who guided us and turned this into a success story,” his father Noor Sheikh had previously told TOI.

Aahil is a champion even when he swims in the regular category.

Last year, at the State Championships, Aahil competed with regular swimmers and still finished on top in multiple events, winning four gold medals–1500m freestyle, 800m freestyle, 400m freestyle and 200 butterfly–besides a silver in 200m.