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India’s Pioneering Visually Impaired Ironman Athlete Dies After Hotel Fall

Officials have opened a probe into the circumstances of his July 1 fall in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar following widespread tributes to his achievements.

Niket Dalal, India's First Visually Impaired Ironman, Dies After Fall  | Image: X
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Overview

  • Niket Srinivas Dalal fell from a hotel’s second floor in Samarthnagar at around 8 am on July 1 after his home was rendered unsafe by a fire the night before.
  • Local police have launched an official investigation to determine how the 38-year-old Ironman athlete came to fall.
  • In 2020, Dalal became India’s first and the world’s fifth visually impaired competitor to finish the Ironman 70.3 triathlon.
  • He trained with guide Arham Shaikh through the Adventures Beyond Barriers Foundation and had previously won multiple national swimming medals.
  • Sports organizations and disability advocates have honored Dalal’s resilience and groundbreaking legacy.