62-year-old Paediatrician bags 2 medals at World Masters Games in Taipei
Mysuru: Defying age, a 62-year-old city-based paediatrician, Dr. Anya Saini, has brought home international recognition by winning two medals at the ongoing World Masters Games 2025 in Taipei, Taiwan. She secured a silver medal in the 200-meter breaststroke and a bronze in the 100-meter breaststroke at this prestigious global sporting event, held every four years.
Breaststroke is a swimming event where competitors swim four lengths of a 50-meter pool using the breaststroke swimming style. Expressing her pride, Dr. Saini described it as an honour to represent and compete in such a high-calibre championship. "It feels great to compete at the World Masters and connect with athletes from across the globe," she told the Times of India.
These recent accolades in Taipei add to her impressive track record, which includes four gold medals at the 20th Masters' National Swimming Championship held in Bhopal in 2024. There, she triumphed in the 50-meter and 100-meter breaststroke, as well as the 200-meter and 400-meter freestyle categories.
Dr. Saini’s journey in swimming began at the age of eight, and her passion for the sport has remained strong for over 50 years. While pursuing her MBBS at Mysuru Medical College and Research Institute in 1984, she earned a bronze medal at the All India Inter-University Championship. Since the inception of masters' level swimming competitions in 2002, she has over 100 medals to her credit. Balancing her medical career with her athletic pursuits, Dr. Saini remains dedicated to a rigorous six-day-a-week training regimen, proving that age is no barrier to achieving excellence in both profession and sport. "Returning to the pool is nostalgic," she expressed.
The World Masters Games is an international multi-sport event held every four years, open to sportspeople of all abilities and most ages. The 2025 Summer World Masters Games will take place in Taipei and New Taipei City, Taiwan, from May 17 to 30, 2025, with the theme "Sports Beyond Age! Life Without Limits.
