Huafrid Billimoria Secures Spot for International Para-Triathlon and Para-Cycling Competitions
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Huafrid Billimoria from Mumbai has earned the right to represent India in international para-triathlon and para-cycling events, marking a significant achievement in his athletic career after overcoming health challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Huafrid Billimoria qualifies for international events.
- First Indian para-sportsperson to achieve this milestone.
- Finished second in a challenging classification race.
- Competed under extreme heat and difficult conditions.
- Overcame health issues to train and compete.
Mumbai, April 1 (NationPress) - Huafrid Billimoria, a para-athlete and para-cyclist based in Mumbai, has successfully achieved the qualifying classification to represent India in prestigious international para-triathlon and para-cycling events. Billimoria proudly stated that he is the first Indian para-sportsperson to attain this honor.
Billimoria secured second place in the category classification race held under tough conditions in Hyderabad on Sunday.
"It was a challenging race for category classification, which meant I was competing in the most difficult category -- Senior Men 2 -- alongside more than 10 others. Finishing second in 42+ degrees Celsius at 1 pm in the Hyderabad heat was incredibly tough. I struggled with breathing due to the dryness," Billimoria shared in a statement on Tuesday, noting they had to maintain an average cycling speed of 32 km/h despite the adverse conditions to reach the podium.
The classification competition consisted of an 18 km time trial as part of the 1st National Para Road Cycling Championship 2025 organized by the Telangana Cycling Association.
Basavaraj T. Horaddi from Karnataka finished first with a time of 31:46:560 minutes, while Huafrid Billimoria placed second with 34:12:434, and Pravin Kumar from Bihar came in third with a time of 36:16:432 minutes.
This race was particularly challenging for Billimoria, who had been bedridden for most of 2024 due to a rare autoimmune disorder. He had merely four months of training, which included relearning how to walk, and only one month focused on cycling.
Compounding the challenges further, the race, originally scheduled for 9 am, was delayed to 1 pm due to unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, Billimoria had to compete after just four-and-a-half hours of sleep, battling ongoing loose motions throughout the month.
"Dystonia was severe, and heatstroke made it worse; only water and ice helped me survive," he stated in his release.
Despite feeling overwhelmed by heat and anxiety, which made him fear a heart attack, Billimoria considered withdrawing before the race. However, once the race commenced, adrenaline kicked in, and he ultimately completed the race in second place.
