Latest update December 20th, 2017 12:04 PM
Jun 05, 2014 Editor Kisumu News News, Rally, Sports 0
By MUKAMI MUNGAI
His charisma and optimism betrays the notion that inability is a hindrance to one achieving his goals and aspirations. His weighty laughter depicting a happy man devoid of his challenges. His youthful face showing so much promise. Taking everyday’s step with hope and courage. Venturing into what many in his condition would not think of.
Nikhil Sachania is a son born to an Indian family in Kenya. He is disabled and moves with the help of a wheelchair after been involved in an accident that almost ruined his life. It happened when he was training in Athi River when riding code bikes, he fell off and the code hit him and broke his back. He had just graduated from the University and this accident seemed to wipe his dreams.
But even this did not stop him instead it fired his resolve to go further and achieve his dreams. Sachania comes from a rallying family as his father was a rally driver.
His interest in rally driving is a fire that has always lit his desires since he was a child. Watching veteran rally drivers like Azar Anwar, Carl Tundo and Ian Duncan compete with so much vigour and expertise, Sachania knew that it was just a matter of time that his name would also appear in the same radar as his favorite rally drivers.
When Kisumu News caught up with him, it was his first rally at the just concluded KCB sponsored Eldama Ravine Rally that took place in May 2014.
The rally drivers navigated and snaked through the Kerio Valley and Flourspar attracting large crowds of rally fans.
The rally was quite tough especially the terrain but it was fun and exciting, he said.
He says that he does it for adventure, the Mitsubishi Challenger rally car that he navigates is specially modified so that the gears and brakes he is using are able to adjust to his stature. Because his legs are immovable.
I accelerate brakes with my left hand and steer the wheel with the other, he says.
The rally driver attributes his success to his co-driver and mechanic whom he takes pride in by saying that they have always helped him in his training. He confides that he is a stickler and follower of instructions. His navigator Charan Singh also attests to this.
I pose a question on how he manages to compete with his counterparts despite his condition. And his answer is forthright.
I take them as equals. I believe that you can do anything despite your shortcomings. You just have to change your attitude and perception, he says as he chuckles leaning on his car.
Nickil Sachania did not hide to point out that his family is the biggest asset and his fans. They are all supportive of him and encourage him to never give up on any of his dreams.
I can’t do anything without my family, he says.
And true to his words towards the finish line of the rally, they are all there to receive him. They congratulate him and take pictures with him.
Veteran rally driver Azar Anwar is also proud of Sachania, saying that he has set a very good example to demystify the fact that disability is not inability.
He is a young man with a lot of promise. He is an example to many people who believe that it does not matter how you are but what you think of yourself. He is setting an example to demystify the fact that disability is not inability and I wish him well, he asserts.
His future plans are to compete with rally legends in Kenya and even beat them at their own game. So determined is he in this quest that he will not let anything come in between.
Nickil Sachania has already begun training in preparation for major rallies and the sky can only be the limit for this young and brilliant man.
He concludes with these words
you have to try. You have to put effort and you will get somewhere.
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