By ERNEST NDUNDA

Muhammad Bilal trains at the Mombasa womens hall at the weekend. Bilal scoped seven gold medals in the just concluded Level One Swimming championship at East London City in South Africa. [PHOTO: KELVIN KARANI/STANDARD]

He made his international debut by scooping seven gold medals to the amazement of many at the East London City of South Africa.

Muhammad Bilal Khandwalla was among the 15 swimmers from Mombasa who took part in the recent Level One swimming championships in South Africa.

To his credit, Bilal won gold in all the seven races he participated in.

“I have finally found my winning ways after the splendid performance in South Africa,” Bilal told FeverPitch.

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Trained by coach Ahmed Fauz, Bilal was selected by the Coast Amateur Swimming Association (Casa) last October after his sterling performance in both Casa and national championships.

Born on April 29, 2001, Bilal says he started swimming at the age of nine and has never looked back.

“I started swimming under a different coach who introduced me to the basic swimming skills before coach Fauz took over in 2012,” said Bilal who is a Year Seven student at Mombasa’s Jaffery Academy.

Swimming talent

Bilal said coach Fauz spotted his swimming talent despite being active in tennis and triathlon, adding that the coach put more emphasis on swimming after seeing his talent in the sport.

“Since I joined Blue Ocean swim Club under coach Fauz, my swimming styles have improved and winning seven gold medals in South Africa did not come as a surprise. I had the instincts of doing better in South Africa if my timings were anything to trust,” said Bilal, who was accompanied by his father Bilal Khandwalla.

In South Africa, Bilal won gold in 200m (backstroke), 200m (freestyle), 100m (freestyle), 100m (backstroke), 50m (fly), 50m (backstroke) and 50m (freestyle).

The Mombasa team, which returned home on April 1, won 35 medals at the championships.

“I felt good winning the seven individual gold medals but I still have a long way to go. I’m focusing on representing Kenya in Youth Olympics and God willing in Commonwealth Games,” said Bilal.

“Kenya’s brothers Jayson and David Dunford and Australian great Ian Thorpe are some of my role models and I dream of doing better than them in future,” said Bilal.

Grace of God

“It’s only by the grace of God that I am growing from strength to strength and I would specially thank my coach Fauz and my parents for being in my life by supporting me. They have been encouraging and have dreamt my dream too,” said Bilal.

“I will surely make my country proud one day as I did in South Africa,” added Bilal.

Fauz said Bilal has the will to grow to a better swimmer. “Bilal coordinates well with the coach and his parents, which forms a good triangle in sport.

“Our foundation at Blue Ocean Swim Club is solid. We have been producing quality swimmers since the inception of the club five years ago,” added Fauz, who is also the former Aga Khan Academy Mombasa coach and the current Organising Secretary of Casa.

Bilal’s father Khandwalla says he was proud of his son’s performance in South Africa and pledged to continue supporting him realise his dream.

“I think my presence in South Africa boosted his confidence and that’s why he did so well,” he said.

“Bilal is the last born but his older brother Suleiman and sister Umayma are all swimmers and have been encouraging him to take swimming seriously,” added Khandwalla.

—enzioka@standardmedia.co.ke