The Junior World Swimming Championships 2025 got underway today in Otopeni, Romania, with young swimmers from across the globe showcasing their talent on one of the sport’s most prestigious youth stages.
For India, Day 1 brought a blend of promising personal milestones, near-misses, and signs of future potential. While the country did not make it to the semifinals on opening day, the performances reflected steady progress, especially in the context of international exposure.
D Shashikumar’s Personal Best in 400m Freestyle
The standout Indian swim of the day came from 16-year-old D Shashikumar in the men’s 400m freestyle. Lining up against a massive field of 83 starters, D Shashikumar clocked 3:58.89, finishing 29th overall. While the placing did not push him into the top-16 required for the semifinals, the timing was hugely significant. D Shashikumar shaved off nearly five seconds from his previous best of 4:03.03, recorded just last month at the Indian Junior Nationals. Breaking the four-minute barrier is often seen as a benchmark for developing middle-distance freestylers, and D Shashikumar’s achievement at a world-level meet highlights his potential to rise further.
India has traditionally lagged in freestyle distance events on the world stage. D Shashikumar effort, though outside the medal bracket, signals that Indian swimmers are beginning to close the gap. His ability to deliver a lifetime best under the pressure of a world meet is commendable and bodes well for his progression in both the 200m and 400m events over the coming years.
Joining D Shashikumar in the 400m freestyle was compatriot Samadev, who finished 45th overall with a timing of 4:07.61. While outside his personal best, the swim added to his international experience, crucial for building composure at big competitions. For younger swimmers like Samadev, exposure to heats with top European, American, and Asian athletes provides invaluable lessons in race pacing and handling the competitive atmosphere.
Rishabh Das Misses PB in 100m Backstroke
In the men’s 100m backstroke, Rishabh Das placed 30th out of 82 swimmers with a timing of 56.87 seconds, marginally outside his personal best of 56.13. Das, one of the most promising backstroke specialists in the country, is already the national record holder in the 200m backstroke, where he is on the cusp of breaking the two-minute barrier. His performance in the 100m, while not his sharpest, showed that he is consistently maintaining times around the mid-56s. The slight miss on his PB indicates there is room to sharpen his starts and turns, areas critical in sprint backstroke events.
At just 17, Das remains one of India’s brightest medal prospects at continental levels such as the Asian Age Group Championships. His participation in the Junior Worlds adds valuable international exposure against the fastest juniors from Europe, the USA, and Australia.
Saanvi Deshwal Makes Her World Debut
On the women’s side, 14-year-old Saanvi Deshwal contested the 400m individual medley, finishing her heats in 5:10.47. For the youngest member of the Indian squad, this was less about final positions and more about gaining experience at a world championship. The 400 IM is regarded as one of the toughest races in swimming, testing endurance, versatility, and mental strength across all four strokes. For Saanvi, competing in such a demanding event on debut will prove invaluable for her development. With age on her side, the early exposure to world standards will only accelerate her growth in the demanding medley discipline.
Day 1 results also provided a glimpse of the gap Indian swimmers need to close. The leaders in the men’s 400m freestyle were clocking times in the 3:45–3:47 range well clear of D Shashikumar PB but a reminder of the level required to compete for medals. Similarly, the top backstrokers were finishing their heats in under 55 seconds, underscoring the fine margins at the elite junior level.
For India, however, the immediate priority is not medals but steady progression. Achieving personal bests, as D Shashikumar did, is the right step forward. The exposure to world-class competition is itself a victory, as it builds mental toughness and exposes swimmers to high-intensity racing environments that domestic meets cannot replicate.
The Indian swimming program has gained momentum in recent years, with investments in high-performance training, access to overseas competitions, and the rise of young talent. The junior team in Romania represents that new wave athletes who are not just participants but are beginning to test themselves against the world’s best. The likes of D Shashikumar , Das, and Saanvi represent different aspects of this growth: D Shashikumar endurance and time drops in freestyle, Das’s technical strength in backstroke, and Saanvi’s versatility in medley.
Each performance is a building block toward India becoming a stronger presence in global swimming.
Day 1 Summary
- Men’s 400m Freestyle:
- D Shashikumar : 29th/83, 3:58.89 (Personal Best)
- Samadev: 45th/83, 4:07.61
- Men’s 100m Backstroke:
- Rishabh Das: 30th/82, 56.87 (close to PB 56.13)
- Women’s 400m Individual Medley:
- Saanvi Deshwal: 5:10.47 at age 14
India’s campaign at the Junior World Swimming Championships began with encouraging signs, if not headline results. D Shashikumar breakthrough sub-four-minute swim in the 400m freestyle was the highlight, while Rishabh Das and Saanvi Deshwal gained valuable race exposure.
For a country still carving its niche in international swimming, Day 1 underlined the importance of steady progress. The personal bests, close finishes, and youthful energy from the Indian squad showed that while medals may still be a future goal, the building blocks are firmly in place.
