India’s leading backstroke swimmer, Srihari Nataraj, continued his impressive form by securing qualification for both the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in the men’s 50m backstroke at the 79th Senior National Aquatics Championships in Ahmedabad. The Olympian and multiple-time national record holder clocked 25.21 seconds in the heats, comfortably surpassing the qualification standards of 25.34 seconds for the Commonwealth Games and 25.39 seconds for the Asian Games.
With this performance, Srihari became only the second Indian swimmer after Sajan Prakash to achieve the individual qualification mark for both major multi-sport events.
Although he narrowly missed his personal best of 25.18 seconds set in 2021, Srihari maintained his dominance in the event and went on to win the gold medal in the final with a time of 25.32 seconds.
Top 8 Qualifiers – Men’s 50m Backstroke (Prelims)
- Srihari Nataraj (Karnataka) – 25.21 (New National Record)
- Vinayak Vijay (SSCB) – 25.81
- Rishabh Anupam Das (Maharashtra) – 25.86
- Akash Mani (Karnataka) – 26.26
- Kanish Chakraborty (Bengal) – 26.43
- Utkarsh Santosh Patil (SSCB) – 26.66
- MJ Praveen Kumar (Tamil Nadu) – 26.77
- Suhas Preetham Mylari (Telangana) – 27.44
Men’s 50m Backstroke Final Results
- Srihari Nataraj (Karnataka) – 25.32
- Rishabh Anupam Das (Maharashtra) – 25.69
- Vinayak Vijay (SSCB) – 26.14
- Kanish Chakraborty (Bengal) – 26.20
- Akash Mani (Karnataka) – 26.28
- Utkarsh Santosh Patil (SSCB) – 26.59
- MJ Praveen Kumar (Tamil Nadu) – 26.68
- Suhas Preetham Mylari (Telangana) – 27.13
The championships also witnessed a remarkable performance from Maharashtra’s Saanvi Deshwal in the women’s 200m Individual Medley. She clocked 2:19.15 to win the gold medal and set a new Best Indian Time, eclipsing the previous mark of 2:21.15 held by Hashika Ramachandra since the 2023 National Championships. Tanishi Gupta finished second with a time of 2:20.61.
Meanwhile, young swimming sensation Dhinidhi Desinghu began her individual campaign strongly by topping the heats of the women’s 200m freestyle in 2:03.72. She improved further in the final, touching the wall in 2:03.07 to claim gold. However, she fell short of her own national record of 2:02.84 and the Asian Games qualification mark of 2:00.76.
With several swimmers producing notable performances, the National Championships continue to serve as a crucial platform for Indian athletes aiming to secure qualification and build momentum ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Srihari Nataraj’s Olympic Journey: From Bengaluru to the World’s Biggest Stage
Srihari Nataraj’s rise to becoming one of India’s finest swimmers is a story of determination, talent, and relentless hard work. Born on January 16, 2001, in Bengaluru, Srihari specialized in backstroke from a young age and quickly emerged as one of India’s brightest swimming prospects. Over the years, he broke multiple national records and established himself as the country’s leading backstroke swimmer.
His biggest breakthrough came in 2021 when he achieved the Olympic ‘A’ qualification standard in the men’s 100m backstroke. At the Sette Colli Trophy in Rome, Srihari clocked 53.77 seconds, becoming only the second Indian swimmer to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics through the direct Olympic qualification mark. The achievement was historic for Indian swimming and marked the beginning of his Olympic journey.
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Srihari competed in the men’s 100m backstroke. Swimming against some of the world’s best athletes, he recorded a time of 54.31 seconds and finished 27th overall. Although he did not advance to the semifinals, his performance demonstrated that Indian swimmers could compete on the global stage. He also became the first Indian swimmer to compete in an Olympic ‘A’ qualification heat, a significant milestone for the sport in India.
Following Tokyo, Srihari continued to raise his standards. He reached finals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, represented India at the Asian Games, and kept breaking national records across backstroke and freestyle events. His consistency made him the face of Indian swimming heading into the next Olympic cycle.
In 2024, Srihari earned a second consecutive Olympic appearance at the Paris Olympics. Competing once again in the men’s 100m backstroke, he clocked 55.01 seconds in the heats and finished 33rd overall. While he missed out on a semifinal berth, becoming a two-time Olympian placed him among a select group of Indian swimmers to represent the country at multiple Olympic Games.
Now, with qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games already secured in the 50m backstroke, Srihari’s focus is firmly on winning India’s first major international medal in elite swimming. At just 25 years of age during the upcoming Asian Games cycle, he believes his best years are still ahead, and his Olympic journey continues to inspire a new generation of Indian swimmers.
