India ke star backstroke swimmer Srihari Nataraj 2026 Commonwealth Games me ek baar phir desh ki sabse badi swimming hopes me se ek honge. Do baar Olympics me India ko represent kar chuke Srihari ke naam kai national records hain aur unhone pichhle kuch saalon me international level par lagatar strong performances di hain.
Commonwealth Games ka safar
2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games me Srihari ne 50m, 100m aur 200m backstroke events me hissa liya tha. Halanki woh kisi bhi event ke final me jagah nahi bana paaye, lekin isi tournament se unke senior international career ki shuruaat hui. Isi saal Asian Games me unhone 100m backstroke me 56.19 seconds ka personal best bhi swim kiya.
Olympics tak ka safar
Srihari tab surkhiyon me aaye jab woh Olympic ‘A’ Qualification Standard hasil karne wale sirf doosre Indian swimmer bane. Tokyo Olympics (2021) me unhone men’s 100m backstroke heats me 54.31 seconds ka time nikala aur overall 27th position par finish kiya. Woh semifinal se thoda sa chook gaye, lekin unka performance Indian swimming ke liye ek bada milestone tha.
Paris Olympics 2024 me bhi Srihari ne India ko represent kiya aur 100m backstroke me overall 33rd position hasil ki. Iske saath hi woh un chuninda Indian swimmers me shamil ho gaye jinhone do Olympics me hissa liya hai.
2022 Birmingham CWG me kiya sabse shandaar performance
Birmingham Commonwealth Games Srihari ke career ka ab tak ka sabse successful CWG raha.
- 50m Backstroke – 5th place
- 100m Backstroke – 7th place
- 200m Backstroke – 9th place (National Record ke saath)
Unhone 50m aur 100m backstroke ke finals me jagah banayi aur dono events me medal ke kaafi kareeb rahe.
Asian Championships aur South Asian Games me bhi chamke
2025 Asian Swimming Championships (Ahmedabad) me Srihari ne 3 Silver aur 4 Bronze medals jeetkar apni consistency dikhayi.
Isse pehle 2019 South Asian Games (Kathmandu) me unhone 4 Gold aur 2 Silver medals apne naam kiye the, jisse woh tournament ke sabse successful Indian swimmers me se ek bane.
2026 Commonwealth Games se ummeedein
Ab 25 saal ki umr me Srihari Nataraj apne career ke peak phase me hain. Do Olympics ka experience, Commonwealth Games finals ka confidence aur lagatar international exposure unhe Glasgow 2026 me India ke sabse bade medal contenders me se ek banata hai.
Birmingham me woh medal se bas kuch kadam door the. Is baar fans ki ummeed hogi ki Srihari apni “near miss” ko ek historic Commonwealth Games medal me badal sakein.
Srihari Nataraj – Major Achievements
Commonwealth Games
- 2018 Gold Coast: 50m, 100m aur 200m Backstroke (Final me qualify nahi kar paaye)
- 2022 Birmingham: 5th (50m Backstroke), 7th (100m Backstroke), 9th (200m Backstroke)
Olympics
- Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021): 27th – 100m Backstroke
- Paris 2024: 33rd – 100m Backstroke
Asian Championships 2025
- 3 Silver Medals
- 4 Bronze Medals
South Asian Games 2019
- 4 Gold Medals
- 2 Silver Medals
