India has been sending contingents to the World Transplant Games since 2011. From one or two participants in the early years, the contingent grew to 14 in 2019, bringing home 7 medals. In 2023, we hope to take 50 of India's finest transplant athletes to compete against the best in the world.
Meet the men and women of Team India at the World Transplant Games 2023. Overcoming illness and extreme adversity with the help of family, friends or complete strangers, these athletes are preparing to compete against the best in the world and make their country proud.
Umesh Dhavalikar’s transplant journey is a story of how unpredictable life can be. He went from being perfectly healthy, to having transplant surgery in the span of a single week. Umesh was a fit young man in his twenties, but like so many of us, fitness took a back seat as he became more invested in his career. It was only when he began to take his daughter to badminton practice that things changed for him. With a few hours to kill while his daughter was being coached, he used the time to walk, and then gradually to run. He eventually built back his fitness to a point where he was regularly doing 10k runs.
But then fate intervened. What started as a persistent headache and fatigue on the 9th of April 2015, led to hospitalization the very next day. On the third day, he and his family were informed that he was suffering from Fulminant (Acute) Hepatic Failure. His was an extremely rare case where a viral Hepatitis A infection had led to almost complete liver failure within a few days. He was told that unless he got a transplant, he was unlikely to survive the week.
Umesh believes he was truly blessed. He was extremely fortunate that one after another, things fell into place for him. From the early diagnosis, to being able to get to the right hospital, to having an eligible liver donor in his immediate family (his sister), and a timely, successful transplant on 15th April 2015, everything worked out for Umesh. He is very grateful for his new lease of life, and has vowed to honour his sister’s gift by living the best life possible. After his transplant, he began running again and soon took to cycling. He is currently preparing to participate in the 30k cycling event at the World Transplant Games 2023 in Perth.
Tauheed was a happy, cheerful young man in his 20s. He loved sports, particularly badminton, and would think nothing of eating out 4-5 times a week. But he noticed something wrong when he would suffer from frequent headaches. One day he woke up to swelling all over his body, and soon discovered that his creatinine levels were alarmingly high. He began dialysis once a week, which gradually reached thrice a week.
Though initially supportive, Tauheed’s family began to lose hope. He still remembers his older brother saying, ‘Why are we putting so much money when there isn’t any hope?’ His doctor suggested a transplant and in a story altogether so heartbreakingly common, his sister-in-law initially agreed to donate a kidney, but changed her mind the next day, along with his brothers. A friend even offered to bear the costs of the transplant, but no one in the family was willing. Tauheed was eventually able to get a kidney transplant in 2014, since which time he has worked hard to keep fit and active.
He started running and playing badminton again, and in a stroke of luck that he well deserved, Tauheed found a fellow transplant athlete in his town. That athlete was none other than Balveeer Singh, who has brought home no less than three medals for India at the World Transplant Games.
They now regularly practice together and are training for the World Transplant Games 2023 in Perth, Australia. They are both hoping that their hard work will pay off and they will both bring home medals for their country.
I have pledged to dedicate myself with the mission of spreading awareness on Organ Donation in India and is the purpose of my Second Life since I survived liver transplant surgery in 2019 at AIG Hospital, Hyderabad.
Special sports events like this will definitely be a platform to spread the word on the need for more and more people to donate organs.
WE CAN eradicate myths and fear around Organ Donation.
Born with a congenital bladder disorder, Souvik had a difficult childhood. Near constant pain in his kidneys and doctor and hospital visits were a regular part of his life. While Souvik struggled with his disease, his family struggled with the escalating cost of treatment. After a failed surgery at the age of 9 and a partially successful one at the age of 15, Souvik’s condition stabilized, but his surgeon warned him it was a temporary reprieve, and he would inevitably need a transplant.
After 15 years, at the age of 28, the doctor’s prediction came true and a transplant was the only option he was left with. His parents wanted to donate their kidneys, but due to their own medical issues, doctors ruled them out as possible donors. Luckily, just as it seemed there was no hope left, his maternal uncle volunteered to donate his kidney. By the time the transplant happened, he was on dialysis for 9 months.
7 years later, Souvik leads a healthy and active life. He credits his family for keeping him alive. “My family is the reason why I am still alive. Keeping me alive was their first priority above anything. They always stood with me on this journey and still are.”
After his transplant, he never thought he would be able to lead a good life, not the way a “normal” person would live. Then he heard about the World Transplant Games and was inspired by the lives of the athletes who are fighting and thriving after their transplant. He now wants to be the same inspiration for others, to show the world that there is a life after transplant. Having played Darts and 10-Pin Bowling regularly throughout his life, Souvik aims to participate in the World Transplant Games 2023 and win India’s first medals in these sports.
Rahul was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCMP) at the age of just 19. DCMP causes the chambers of the heart to thin and stretch, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively. His condition was managed till 2017, when Rahul suffered a paralytic attack. His doctors told the family there was no other option besides a transplant. In shock and frightened, Rahul’s family nonetheless stood by him and waited for a viable organ.
Rahul was fortunate enough to receive the transplant in 2018 at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. Rahul now leads a fit and active life. Over the past few months, Rahul has been working on his fitness and has been training hard to participate in the World Transplant Games. For Rahul, his transplant and the sacrifice of the donor’s family is something that he must honor by living to the fullest. Rahul’s dream is to represent India at the World Transplant Games and hopes to make both his donor and his country proud.
I am a second kidney transplant recipient, working as a CSR consultant. I got diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) approximately 15 years back. Though my journey had its share of ups and downs, with the help of available treatment options, doctors, and almighty’s grace, I have been able to live a wholesome life. I remind myself every day of the importance of an active lifestyle for the life of a long-lasting kidney transplant. My journey has also taught me that, one needs a lot of support from family, peers and community to get through CKD. World transplant games will be an opportunity for me to meet inspirational transplant recipients from all over the world who believe in creating such a community and spreading awareness about CKD.
Maggie Paul(Donor)I am a kidney donor, working as a PhD scholar at the University of Adelaide, Australia. Donating a kidney was an enlightening process in many ways. Among other personal revelations, through this process, I understood the lack of awareness about chronic kidney diseases and the donation process. I wish to contribute my abilities and experience to raise awareness for the same. I have also, for a long time concentrated on having a healthy lifestyle that includes different forms of exercise, good eating habits and mindfulness. World transplant games will give me encouragement to keep supporting the CKD community in every way I can.
My name is Karan Gaur and I belong to Bikaner city. I am 25 year old. In 2009 when I was just 11 years old, my kidneys suddenly got damaged. We went to many hospitals, but at that time there were very few hospitals doing the transplant in our country. Finally we went to AIIMS Delhi. The doctors did all tests for my father and mother so that one of them could be a match and donate 1 kidney to me. My mother was a match. I was transplanted in 2009.
After the transplant we both are perfectly fit and I can countinue my sports. After transplant I participated several times in National Transplant Games in Mumbai organised by Narmada Kidney Foundation, and now I am preparing for bedminton and running in World Transplant Games 2023.
Harsh Vardhan Singh was born with an unusual condition, he only had one kidney at birth. When the kidney he had began to fail, the only option available to him was a transplant. His mother donated her kidney and after initial problems with rejection, Harsh was back on his way to living a healthy life. Being an athlete in school, playing tennis and handball at the state level, coming back to sports following the transplant seemed like a natural progression.
Harsh credits his family, his mother and his wife in particular, for helping keep him alive. He wants to participate in the World Transplant Games to share with the world that if you have your family standing by you, anything is possible, and organ failure doesn’t have to be the end of one’s life.
Dr. Arjun Srivatsa, a neurosurgeon by profession was diagnosed with chronic renal failure. In 2014, his brother Anil volunteered to donate one of his kidneys to him. The duo had a successful organ donation and transplantation process.
As avid sportsmen, both of them decided to participate in the World Transplant Games 2019 and went on to win gold medals for the country, with Anil setting a world record in his event - Ball Throw.
Anil likes to say that both his kidneys won gold medals at the Games. Needless to say, India is expecting another couple of medals from the brothers at the 2023 World Transplant Games in Perth!
Digvijay Singh Gujral is a fitness enthusiast by passion, an entrepreneur by profession and a social worker by persistence & business postgraduate by qualification. He is a Director at Gujral Hotels Pvt Ltd and has over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry which has won various industrial accolades in the last 24 years under the guidance of his father Er. Sri M.S.Gujral Born and brought up in Jabalpur, completed his schooling & graduation from St. Aloysius & later on went to Mumbai to pursue his FMB in entrepreneurship from S.P. Jain institute of management & research which ranks among the top B Schools in India. Filled with morals & high values made him receive the certificate of moral science in his school tenure twice & was also the prefect of his house in his school days.
When he was 1 year old he was diagnosed as having non-functioning right kidney. Afterwards he found to have a large hydronephrotic left kidney with a congenital obstruction in it. He underwent Anderson haynes pyeloplasty in 1987. During subsequent years his creatnine gradually increased from 1.2 mg/dl to 3.8 and protein urea also increased from 480 in 2000 to 1.7 gm in 2009. In the year 2011 after 3 months of dialysis he finally underwent a kidney transplant.
This tough phase in his life led to a keen interest in a healthy lifestyle post transplant which helped him to share his enthusiasm, encourage a happier lifestyle, and help people realize what their bodies are capable of. It didn’t bring him down; in fact it helped him to inculcate the feeling of doing something great in life. He understood how precious every day is which God has given to him.
“Everybody has the same 24 hours and 365 days in a year given by God, but what we do & make out of it differentiates us from the others & that’s the route to greatness.”
Digvijay has won around 10 Gold medals in the National Transplant Games & 1 Silver Medal in Squash at The World Transplant Games held in Newcastle, UK 2019. He is raring to go to the World Transplant Games in 2023 at Perth Australia. This time nothing less than the gold will do!
Dharmendra Soti was an otherwise healthy young man when in 2001, his kidneys began to fail due to undiagnosed high blood pressure. The realisation shocked his entire family, and as he began dialysis, Dharmendra began to realise how much his life was going to change. A lifelong badminton player, he was looking at the very real possibility of never setting foot on a badminton court again. When the time finally came, his brother volunteered to donate his kidney to Dharmendra.
The transplant resolved his health situation, but like many people, Dharmendra assumed sports was out of the question for a transplant patient. He would go to the badminton court, watch people play, and come back home despondent. During a follow-up appointment with his doctor, he asked his doctor if he could play again. To his surprise the doctor not only approved of the request, but actively encouraged him to take up the sport again. After that, there was no looking back. Dharmendra threw himself into the game and has participated in three editions of the World Transplant Games, bringing home a silver medal in 2013, a gold and silver in 2015 and a bronze in 2017.
Before he could participate in the 2019 Games, fate intervened once more. It was discovered that yet again, his kidney was failing. This time, however, Dharmendra did not lose hope. He was fortunate enough to undergo another kidney transplant and is now very much back in action. He is raring to go for the World Transplant Games 2023 in Perth, and is hoping to bring back another medal for India.
A former professional cricketer, life was good for Sumeer in the early 2000s. He was a rising star in Cricket, with a goal to play for the country. However, an incident of extreme dehydration led to an Acute Kidney Injury. Fortunately, due to timely intervention, he was able to recover, and played for almost 4 years when unfortunate circumstances cut short his cricketing career. He moved away from cricket, into learning the science of Sport And Exercise, and became a sought-after wellness consultant.
Twelve years later, a severe bout of bronchitis and chest infection while on a high-altitude training program caused both his kidneys to shut down. He was advised dialysis and after waiting for three years, he received a kidney from a Cadaver Donor. This kidney also failed three years later, pushing him back to dialysis.
While he was in the documentation process for his 2nd Transplant, he was rushed for an emergency surgery due to an aortic dissection. March 2019 began with a series of hospital stays with a count of eight critical surgeries till September 2019, when he was fit enough to undergo his 2nd transplant with a close family friend as a kidney donor.
To feel the thrill of life after a transplant, within 3 months he got back to his physical fitness training to participate in a 10km run. He was overjoyed to have reached the finish line and as a result he is now in the Asian Book of Records and Indian Book of Records for being the only 2-time kidney transplant recipient who ran a 10k run within 100 days of his transplant! But fate wasn’t finished with Sumeer, and in 2020 he had a repeat aortic dissection as well as cataract surgeries in both his eyes.
Through all of this, Sumeer has not given up his dream to play for his country. He is currently training to participate in the upcoming 2023 World Transplant Games, in Perth and he will be competing in multiple sporting events like Badminton, Football, and Tennis. He firmly believes that even with multiple serious health conditions, life can be lived with full gusto.
Sameehulla’s father, a retired teacher, was suffering from liver cirrhosis for five years, going through regular periodic check-ups. At the end of 2019, his father’s doctor told them that his condition was worsening by the day. It was quickly getting to the point that there would be no option but to get a transplant. But the cost of the transplant surgery was prohibitive for a middle income family like Sameehulla’s, so the transplant was delayed as the family desperately looked for options. In April of 2020, the transplant finally happened, Sameehulla donated a part of his liver to his father. Two years later, both Sameehulla and his father are living healthy lives.
An athlete and a sprinter from his school days, the moment Sameehulla heard about the World Transplant Games 2023, he knew he had to participate. He has been preparing ever since to bring home the gold for India.
Raghavenra Nagaraj was diagnosed with Liver Cirrhosis in March 2010 and informed by the doctors that he would need a liver transplant in about 3 years’ time. Things were going fine until June 2014, when he developed appendicitis and needed surgery. The surgery got complicated, and his liver took a beating. His doctor opined that his liver was still good and if managed well, he could postpone my transplant for the next 7 to 10 years, but while his treatment was going on, he got an infection and developed swelling in his feet. The time for the transplant had come sooner than had been anticipated.
Since there was no donor in his family, he had to register himself with the Government of Tamil Nadu and waited for almost 10 months, during which time, he developed several complications and was in and out of hospital. On 10th October 2017, he was admitted to the hospital with very low blood pressure and a swollen abdomen. That same afternoon the transplant Coordinator visited him and told him that there was an organ available. On 12th October 2017, he received his kidney, and his new lease on life.
Today, at the age of 59, Raghavendra is keeping fit and in good health, participating in athletic sports such as road racing, 10K walk and 5 K walk and run. An active cricket player at the school level, he eagerly took his doctor’s advice to participate in the World Transplant Games in Newcastle in 2019. Four years later, he is once again preparing to participate in the World Transplant Games 2023 in Perth.
There are some people in this world who truly embody the spirit of selflessness and sacrifice. Meet Mrs. Deepa P S, a mother who has shown an incredible act of love and kindness by donating her kidney to her son Varun. She made this decision without hesitation, despite knowing the risks and challenges that come with such a procedure. Her son had been suffering from a severe kidney condition for some time, and his health had been deteriorating rapidly. The family had exhausted all other options, and a kidney transplant was their last hope to help him lead a normal life. Deepa knew that this was her chance to save her son's life and did not think twice about donating her kidney.
The transplant surgery was a success, and her son's health began to improve, but for Mrs. Deepa P S, the journey did not end there. She had to undergo months of recovery. However, she never complained and kept her spirits high, always focusing on the positive outcome that her sacrifice had brought about. She is doing perfectly fine now due to her will power and also because of her hardwork and incredible act of love, Deepa has been selected to represent India in the World Transplant Games 2023 in the organ donor category. This prestigious event brings together transplant recipients and donors from around the world to celebrate the gift of life and promote organ donation.
For her, this is not just an opportunity to showcase her skills and athleticism; it is a chance to inspire others to become organ donors and save lives. She hopes to spread the message that organ donation is not just a medical procedure but a life-saving act of kindness that has the power to change the world. As we watch Mrs. Deepa P S compete in the games, let us remember the incredible sacrifice she made for her son and the countless other donors who have saved lives through their selflessness. May we be inspired by her courage and dedication to the cause of organ donation and be motivated to make a positive difference in the world.
Meet Varun Anand, a young 13-year-old from Bangalore who was diagnosed with Chronic kidney disease when he was just 9. His parents had to watch their little one undergo very painful treatments, dialysis and innumerable hospital stays. It soon reached a point where a kidney transplant was imminent. Then Varun's mother, Deepa donated one of her kidneys to her son to give him a new lease of life. Post-transplant also he had multiple struggles including NODAT (New Onset Diabetes After Transplant) and several rejection episodes to name a few. But as time passed, with very good medical treatment, his positive attitude and prayers, Varun's health improved, diabetes reversed, and he is able to lead a relatively normal life. He was very grateful to his mother for her selfless act and to his doctor Dr Saumil Gaur (at Rainbow Children's Hospital, Marathahalli, Bangalore) for all his vast knowledge, kindness, and care.
As Varun grew up, he discovered a love for racquet sports. He finds these games (Table Tennis, Badminton, Tennis etc.) challenging and exhilarating, so works hard to excel in these sports and to keep himself fit. His hard work and dedication paid off and Varun's greatest achievement came when he was selected to represent India at the World Transplant Games, 2023. These games bring together athletes who have undergone organ transplants from around the world. Varun is thrilled to be able to participate and compete on a world stage with others who had undergone the same challenges he had. He is very determined to make his mother and his country proud and wants to give his all in every match.
He is a 7th standard student of BVM Global School, Bangalore. Varun's journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, he never gave up. He worked hard and persevered, and he was able to achieve his dreams of representing India and excelling in the games he loves. Varun's story is also a reminder of the importance of organ donation. Organ transplants can save and transform lives, and they give recipients like Varun the chance to live full and meaningful lives. Varun's mother is his superhero, and he is grateful to her every day for giving him the gift of life and to his dad and younger brother Vaibhav for all the support they provide. By becoming an organ donor, each of us can give the gift of life to someone in need, just like Varun's mother did for him.