The 78th Senior Swimming National Championships, currently underway at the state-of-the-art Kalinga Stadium Aquatic Centre, has witnessed a sensational start, with three national records falling in two days.
The championship, which features India’s top swimmers including Paris Olympians Srihari Nataraj and Dhinidhi Desinghu, is proving to be a celebration of youth, speed, and the growing depth of Indian swimming.
Leading the headlines is 15-year-old Dhinidhi Desinghu, who continues to carve her name into the record books with back-to-back national records in the women’s 200m freestyle. Alongside her, Benedicton Rohit in the 100m butterfly and Shoan Ganguly in the 200m individual medley produced statement swims, as India’s new generation continues to raise the bar.
Dhinidhi Desinghu: Record-Breaker at 15
Already India’s youngest-ever Olympian and a rising icon in Indian swimming, Dhinidhi Desinghu produced a landmark swim in the women’s 200m freestyle by breaking her own national record. Her winning time of 2:02.97 minutes shaved 0.27 seconds off the 2:03.24 she clocked at the 2025 National Games, reaffirming her status as India’s best female middle-distance swimmer.
•Gold Medal – Women’s 200m Freestyle
•New NR: 2:02.97
•Previous NR: 2:03.24 (2025 National Games)
What makes this performance even more impressive is Dhinidhi’s age. At just 15, she is still eligible for junior international events and is showing steady, consistent progress with each meet.
Her coaches and fans are now setting their sights on the World Junior Swimming Championships, where the podium timings hover around 1:57 to 1:58. While Dhinidhi still has a few seconds to shave off, the trajectory she’s on suggests it’s well within reach. As she matures physically and benefits from international exposure, there’s growing hope that she could be India’s first real contender at a global junior freestyle event.
Benedicton Rohit: New King of the Butterfly
Tamil Nadu’s Benedicton Rohit was electric in the men’s 100m butterfly, producing a record-shattering performance that broke not one, but two significant marks.
Rohit clocked 52.57 seconds, smashing:
•The previous national record of 53.24s held by Sajan Prakash
•The Best Indian Time of 52.77s held by Virdhawal Khade since 2009
With this, Rohit not only clinched gold at the Nationals but also achieved the ‘B’ qualification time for the World Championships in Singapore next month, earning a shot at the global stage.
•Gold Medal – Men’s 100m Butterfly
•New NR: 52.57s
•Breaks Best Indian Time (52.77s)
•Breaks Official NR (53.24s)
Shoan Ganguly Makes His Mark in the IM
In the men’s 200m Individual Medley, Shoan Ganguly delivered a calculated and powerful swim to break Sajan Prakash’s national record of 2:04.57, set in 2023. Shoan’s timing of 2:04.34 was just enough to establish a new national mark in one of swimming’s most demanding events.
•Gold Medal – Men’s 200m IM
•New NR: 2:04.34
•Previous NR: 2:04.57 (Sajan Prakash)
An all-rounder with a smooth stroke in all four disciplines, Shoan controlled the race from the start and finished strong, making it a complete performance.
A Meet of Stars and Rising Talent
The Senior Nationals this year have assembled the best of Indian swimming: Olympians like Srihari Nataraj, Dhinidhi Desinghu, Sajan Prakash, and a promising crop including Aryaan Mehra, Kushagra Rawat, Hashika Ramachandra, and Shoan Ganguly. With international events on the horizon—including the World Championships in Singapore and the long-term build-up to Los Angeles 2028, this championship serves as a critical checkpoint.
What Do These Records Mean for Indian Swimming?
The three national records are significant not just for their historical value, but for what they indicate:
•Improved Benchmarks: India’s best times are inching closer to Asian and junior world standards.
•Youth on the Rise: All three record-breakers Dhinidhi, Shoan, and Rohit are under 20, showing that a generational shift is underway.
•Qualification Boost: Rohit’s ‘B’ cut and Dhinidhi’s rapid improvement put India in a better position for global participation.
The Kalinga Stadium, now a proven host of major events, continues to provide a world-class setting for national competitions. With more high-performance programs being rolled out across the country and athletes benefiting from structured training and nutrition support, Indian swimming is finally showing signs of deep-rooted systemic progress.
Summary of New National Records – Senior Nationals 2025
As the championship rolls on in Bhubaneswar, one thing is clear: the lanes are faster, the swimmers are sharper, and Indian swimming is breaking new ground stroke by stroke.
