About Me

My Background

I was born on the 17th of July 1986 in a humble family in Rathaus Village of Madhubani District of Bihar. My parents named me Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh

In my childhood, I was really surrounded by sports people and I was really excited to do amazing activities such as Swimming, Fishing, Cricket, Tipcat and Wrestling.

My father Mohammad Nasir and mother Shakeela Khatoon have always been supportive throughout my journey. My mother has been motivating me & inspiring me in all the sporting activities as her own father was a famous wrestler in Bihar, West Bengal and Nepal. She inspired me with stories of my grandfather’s achievements which deeply influenced me.

My mother says when I was 2 years old I used to swim in the pond in front of my house in my village and people would stand on the edge of the pond to watch me. They would applaud for me and each time I heard them clap, it motivated me further. Many people were awestruck watching a little child cross the pond so passionately. This pond still exists in my village. I swam for fun and never thought that one day this very skill would help me to prove myself and make my country proud internationally.

Education

At the age of 6, I relocated to Mumbai for my studies and started my educational career from Mominpura Municipal Urdu School at Byculla. Completed my SSC from Mohammad Haji Saboo Siddik Technical High School and Junior College at Byculla with a first class. I went on to complete my Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Saboo Siddik Polytechnic . During the first semester of my diploma, I got 5 out of 6 as backlogs but was really not worried as I was more focused on my sports career. My Physics professor was supportive & told me not to worry as some people take 5 or 6 to complete the 3 years diploma and I would take my own time but would eventually complete it. This brought some solace but surprisingly, in second semester, I cleared all my backlogs. I was elated and from then on there was no stopping me. I successfully completed my diploma in 3 years. Furthermore I completed my B.E from Rizvi College of Engineering and finally I went on to complete my MBA in Human Resource and Operations from Sathaybama University Chennai.

Karate

I started learning Shito Ryu style of Karate under the guidance of Sensai Umesh Murkar and completed my black belt in 2008. I have won 50+ medals in karate at District level, State level, National and International level championships. I am also participating in wheelchair karate now.

Swimming

After my spinal cord injury in 2010, I had a chance to speak to Mr Raja Ram Ghag, Satyaprakash Tiwari and Amol Boriwale who motivated me to take up swimming to achieve success in life. I started practicing and at first got a chance to participate in Maharashtra State Paralympic Swimming Championship where I won a silver and bronze in free style and back stroke. This allowed me to participate in national championship and now I am a national record holder in my category. However I am an International medalist in Para Swimming and hold the world record in Longest Open Sea Swimming by Paraplegic person. In addition to this, I am also featured in the Limca Book of World Records. Represented India in Asian Para Games Jakarta Indonesia 2018.

Goals

I am an international gold medalist and Preparing to win medal at Asian Para Games 2026, Japan and Compete at Los Angeles Paralympics Games 2028.

TEDx Speaker at-

• TEDx Dharavi, Mumbai
• TEDxGLAU, Mathura
• TEDxIIM Lucknow,
• TEDxIITPatna
• TEDxDikshantSchool
• TEDxSriSairamEngineeringCollege
• TEDxTajNagri
• TEDxYouth@JPSChennai
• TEDxSiddagangaInstituteofTechnology
• TEDxHITKolkata
• TedxJMI New Delhi

I have given many speeches on motivation at various Schools, Colleges and Universities. I continuously work on accessibility issues and aim to make society accessible for all.

Exchange Alumni

Best emerging leader in the world disability sports & sports diplomacy 2018 selected by U.S. department of state bureau of educational and cultural affairs for 5-week immersion global sports mentoring program 2018.

Awards & Recognition

• · JIGAR AWARD from Paraplegic Foundation in 2013.
• · KHEL SAMMAN 2016, 2017, 2018 from Art, Cultural & Youth Department Government of Bihar State.
• · KHEL SAMMAN 2019 for International Category from Art, Cultural & Youth Department Government of Bihar State.
• · Karn Award International from Bihar Disabled Sports Academy in 2016, 2017,2019.
• · State level award from department of social welfare govt. of Bihar 2017
• · Jewel of Nation Award 2017
• · Will Star Award from Nina foundation in 2017
• · Receiver of the best outgoing student excellence award 2017 Sathaybama University Chennai,
• · Mr. Wheelchair India 2017, first runner up.
• · Youth Icon Award 2018
• · The Shoor Veer Award 2018 by Ample Mission
• Bihar Khel Ratana Award 2018.

INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

STATE ACHIEVEMENTS

SEA SWIMMING

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS