It was a day to remember for Indian swimming at the FISU World University Games 2025 in Berlin, as Srihari Nataraj delivered a remarkable performance in the men’s 200m freestyle, rewriting the national record books and reminding everyone why he remains one of India’s most dependable names in the pool.
The lanky swimmer from Bengaluru clocked 1:48.22 minutes in the heats, comfortably topping his Heat 5 and securing a place among the top contenders for the evening semifinals. With this performance, Srihari broke his own previous national record of 1:48.66, set just last month at the Singapore Open in June 2025. In doing so, he also qualified as the fifth fastest overall out of a competitive field of 60 swimmers from across the globe.
For Indian swimming, this moment is more than just numbers on the clock. It marks the continuation of an encouraging trend at the World University Games this year, coming soon after Benedicton Rohit’s record-breaking run in the 50m butterfly earlier in the competition.
Srihari now becomes only the second Indian swimmer at these Games to progress beyond the heats, underlining both his consistency and growing reputation on the international stage.
Srihari’s timing of 1:48.22 is not only a new Indian national record but also the fastest time ever clocked by an Indian in this event, bettering his own best by almost half a second. The significance of that improvement cannot be overstated. In swimming, shaving even a few tenths of a second can be the difference between qualification and elimination, between finals and medals.
That Srihari managed to improve his own mark in a high-pressure setting at a major global event speaks volumes about his training, mental focus, and ability to deliver when it matters.
The race itself was a display of tactical balance and steady power. Swimming in Heat 5, Srihari quickly settled into a strong rhythm, holding his pace over the first 100 metres before producing a composed but effective surge in the final stretch to touch home first in his heat.
With three more heats yet to follow, there was brief suspense about where his timing would place him overall, but it soon became clear that he had comfortably secured a top-eight spot and in fact, ranked fifth among the sixteen who advanced to the semifinals.
For Indian fans, this swim was especially heartening because it confirms Srihari’s steady progress in the 200m freestyle an event traditionally dominated by European and Australian swimmers. Over the past few seasons, the Bengaluru swimmer had already made his mark in backstroke events, but performances like these show his growing range and adaptability across strokes and distances.
Srihari’s feat is also significant in the broader context of Indian swimming. Until a few years ago, national records in freestyle events, especially in the longer sprints like the 200m, remained unchallenged for years.
Srihari’s new benchmark reflects both his individual development and the overall improvement in standards among India’s next generation of swimmers.
The road ahead promises to be just as exciting. With a place secured in the semifinals, Srihari has a real opportunity to chase history: becoming the first Indian swimmer to qualify for a final at the World University Games in this event.
The semifinal, scheduled later in the evening, will see him line up against swimmers with personal bests marginally better than his new record but given the form he displayed in the heats, it wouldn’t be surprising if Srihari finds another gear.
Beyond the immediate prospect of qualification, there’s also the long-term view: performances like these strengthen India’s profile in global university sport and add momentum to preparations for bigger meets later this year and beyond.
With events like the Asian Swimming Championships and other international meets lined up, Srihari’s confidence-boosting swim in Berlin could serve as the perfect springboard.
Social media and Indian swimming circles were quick to celebrate the milestone. “🚨 NATIONAL RECORD ALERT 🚨” read multiple posts as news spread of his 1:48.22 timing, with fans and fellow athletes praising his consistency and competitive spirit. “Brilliant swim from Srihari he placed 5th out of 16 who qualified for the SFs A great chance for him to create history this evening!” one post summed it up neatly.
For now, the spotlight remains firmly on Srihari Nataraj. His ability to break his own national record in back-to-back months shows not just peak form but the mindset of an athlete always seeking that little bit extra. Indian swimming supporters will be watching closely as he takes to the pool again in the semifinals, hoping to see him rewrite another chapter in what has already been a memorable campaign.
Congratulations, Srihari and here’s hoping for an even faster swim in the semis! 🇮🇳👏
