Mumbai: Andheri resident defies odds, heads to World Transplant Games in Germany

It is Deutschland and the spirit of dedication determination and neversaydie Mumbais Anirudh Nansi 64 is in Dresden Germany to compete at the World Transplant Games which began yesterday August 17 and will go on till August 24 Nansi an Andheri resident will compete in the swimming events at these GamesHis events are going to be on August 20 where he will compete in 100m and 200m freestyle and 50m backstroke On August 21 he will compete in the 50m and 400m freestyle He will compete in the 60 to 69 years age group in the transplant recipient category Nansi is a heart transplant recipient After developing a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy where his heart ejection fraction was just 12 per cent of its capacity Nansi was fitted with a cardiac resynchronisation therapy CRT in 2009Anirudh and his wife FalguniThe CRT is like a special pacemaker to improve the hearts pumping ability Nansi a retired assistant commissioner of customs amp excise said ldquoI also had a brain stroke before the CRT which I recovered from I was being advised to go in for a heart transplant in October 2019 In December 2020 I underwent a heart transplant surgery at the HN Reliance Hospital in Mumbai The heart came all the way from Goa This was during peak COVID when very few surgeries were being done The recovery was long it was so challenging but the operation was a success God is kind and greatrdquoThe giftNansi celebrated the gift of a new life by sports training and gradually started participating in Masters Events in local swim meets He also runs regularly participating in races ranging from 5 to 10km He works out at the gym follows a special diet and five months ago started training with absolute focus for DresdenldquoI decided to compete in the 2025 World Transplant Gamesrdquo he said The World Transplant Games feature different sports The Games competitors are divided into different categories like transplant recipients living donors donor families and supporters The Games are a window for raising awareness about organ donationCoach talkThe indomitable Nansi has been coached and mentored in water polo by the legendary Kishen Singh at the PM Hindu Bath Chowpatty Sports trophies and medals jostle for space in his cabinet at his Andheri Lokhandwala home He was a key member of the 1987 gold medalwinning water polo team in Jaipur He represented Maharashtra in water polo from 1978 to 1987 and during this time Maharashtra won gold once silver four times and the bronze four times He represented India in the IndoBangladeshSri Lanka water polo meet where they won goldNansi played water polo for Maharashtra from 1978ndash87 PICSSatej ShindeFrom the pool to the pitch Nansis athletic prowess stretched to cricket too He is one of the few sportsmen who have represented Mumbai University in two sports mdash water polo and cricket He represented RA Podar College Mumbai University MCA Colts Central Bank Customs Shivaji Park Youngsters and Karnatak Sporting Association in cricket in MumbaiChampion stuffldquoOne must live the life of a champion I am living a dream life but it is not just me alone I have so many people to thank I know what my family has gone through My wife Falguni is the wind beneath my wings My two children Jharna and Nakul soninlaw Mukund daughterinlaw Vartika and granddaughter Aria are my pillars toordquo he explained Anirudhs current swimming coach Sandip Patil who trains him at the Forest Club in Hiranandani Powai said ldquoNansirsquos commitment is unwavering He has worked incredibly hard for these Games Yet going beyond sport as his coach I too have learnt a lot of life lessons from himSelfless givingDr Anvay Mulay Director Advanced Cardiac Sciences and Transplant Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital Mumbai said ldquoA once healthy sportsman lost his normal life to advanced heart failure Medication and lifestyle changes could not restore him but a heart transplant gave him not just survival but the gift of living fully again Today five years after he got a heart transplant he has gone from struggling for every breath to living independently Nansis participation in the Transplant Games stands as a living tribute to the generosity of an anonymous donor Let us honour them celebrate life and spread the message that organ donation is not just lifesaving but lifegivingA treasureNansirsquos friend Pradeep Divgikar has one word when asked to describe Nansi ldquoFighterrdquo said Divgikar who is a former water polo player and water polo administrator He added ldquoAnirudh is a valiant warrior and an inspirational role model for organ recipients I treasure his friendship and wish him all the best for the World Transplant GamesrdquoShishir Hattangadi former Mumbai Ranji Trophy cricket captain said ldquoAnirudh has always been hugely accomplished in the pool He was my opening partner in university cricket so I have watched him closely from the other endrdquoDr Talha Meeran additional director and head Heart Failure Program Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital Mumbai said ldquoNansis journey is a remarkable testament to the achievements made possible by advanced transplant medicine allowing recipients to pursue their passion and return to competitive sport after transplantationrdquoIn gratitudeNansi signed off with ldquoMost of all I want to thank my donor family They gave me the heart of their beloved son a young boy who had passed away It is because of this precious heart that came from Goa to Mumbai thanks to a selfless family that I have a new life My gratitude is for the donors and I am indebted to them forever right from the bottom of yes my heartrdquo