In what was a moment of pure brilliance for Indian swimming, Rohit Benedicton delivered a record-shattering performance at the World University Games 2025, rewriting the national record in the Men’s 50m Butterfly.
The 22-year-old swimmer clocked an impressive 24.00 seconds, eclipsing the previous national best of 24.09 seconds set by veteran swimmer Virdhawal Khade at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
Competing in Heat 6 of the preliminaries, Rohit not only topped his heat but also secured an overall 12th place finish, earning a well-deserved spot in the semifinals scheduled for later tonight. The semifinal race, set to start at 10:48 PM IST and broadcast live on the FISU TV app, will see Rohit fighting to break into the final against an elite international field.
A performance to remember
Rohit entered the event with an entry time of 24.88 seconds a mark that already placed him among India’s fastest. Yet, what he managed to achieve in Berlin was beyond expectation. Hitting the water with explosive power and near-perfect technique, he touched the wall at 24.00 seconds, erasing Khade’s seven-year-old record by nearly a tenth of a second.
In sprint events like the 50m Butterfly, even hundredths of a second matter. Rohit’s achievement is significant not just because he broke the record, but because of the composure and confidence he displayed on the world stage. His performance was the highlight for Team India on the opening day of swimming at the World University Games.
Building momentum: A second national record in weeks
Remarkably, this isn’t the first time Rohit Benedicton has rewritten Indian swimming history this year. Just weeks before the Games, Rohit had set a new national record in the 100m Butterfly at the Senior National Aquatic Championships. That record-breaking swim had already placed him firmly on the radar of India’s swimming community as an athlete capable of challenging long-standing marks.
His back-to-back record performances underscore his rise as one of India’s most promising butterfly specialists. It is also a sign that Indian swimming is starting to produce new faces capable of challenging benchmarks set by legends like Virdhawal Khade and Sajan Prakash.
The significance of Rohit’s record
For Indian swimming, the 50m Butterfly record set by Khade at the Asian Games in Jakarta was seen as a gold standard for nearly seven years. Khade’s 24.09-second swim had made him the first Indian to come close to the sub-24 barrier a feat often viewed as the hallmark of world-class sprint butterfly swimmers.
By clocking 24.00 seconds, Rohit not only surpasses Khade’s mark but also inches closer to that elusive sub-24 milestone a time achieved only by elite swimmers on the global stage. While breaking the 24-second barrier remains a goal for Indian swimming, Rohit’s record shows that the next generation is steadily closing that gap.
A rising star for Team India
The World University Games, also known as the FISU Games, are one of the largest multi-sport events in the world, drawing talented student-athletes from across continents. For Rohit, competing here is both an opportunity and a test: the field is filled with world-class competitors, some of whom have already appeared at World Championships and Olympic Games.
Yet, Rohit’s confident swim topping his heat and finishing 12th overall speaks volumes about his mindset. At just 22, he has shown the ability to peak under pressure, a quality that often separates good athletes from great ones.
Eyes on the semifinals
The semifinal race later tonight offers Rohit a chance to go even further. Qualifying for the final would not only mark a personal career milestone but also be a historic achievement for Indian swimming at the World University Games, where semifinal and final appearances by Indian swimmers have been rare.
More importantly, this race will be a test of consistency and nerves. Reproducing or bettering his heat time could place him among the top eight and earn a coveted lane in the final. With momentum on his side, Rohit and his coaches will be quietly optimistic.
Beyond records: what this means for Indian swimming
Rohit Benedicton’s new national record is bigger than just numbers; it’s about belief. Indian swimming has often struggled with depth in sprint events, relying on a handful of stars to set benchmarks. Rohit’s emergence shows that the new generation is not only willing to challenge those marks but capable of rewriting them.
His performance will inspire younger swimmers back home, who now see that breaking national records and competing internationally is within reach. It also highlights the growing impact of structured training, sports science, and exposure through events like the Senior Nationals and international competitions.
As Rohit Benedicton stands on the blocks tonight for the semifinals, he carries with him not just personal ambition but the hopes of Indian swimming fans everywhere. His 24.00-second swim is already a milestone, but what makes this story exciting is that it feels like just the beginning.
With every stroke, Rohit is proving that Indian swimmers can not only challenge the past but also shape the future. And for Indian sport, few stories could be more inspiring.
All eyes now on Berlin tonight as Rohit Benedicton dives back into the water, chasing another chapter in his record-breaking journey.
