The 11th Asian Aquatics Championships kicked off with an electrifying opening day at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, and for India, it was double Olympian Srihari Nataraj who led the way.
The 24-year-old Bengaluru swimmer claimed two silver medals in the men’s 200m freestyle and 50m backstroke, before returning to the pool to anchor the men’s 4x100m medley relay, where India secured a bronze. The three-medal haul on Day 1 brought an end to a 16-year-long wait for India at this prestigious continental event. The last time Indian swimmers stood on the podium at the Asian level was in 2009, when Virdhawal Khade, Sandeep Sejwal, and Aaron D’Souza won medals in China.
For Srihari, the opening day was memorable yet tinged with a sense of disappointment. “It was a big start to our campaign, and honestly a much better Day 1 than what some of us thought,” he reflected. “But personally, I am disappointed I didn’t get a gold in the 50m backstroke. That was my best chance. My personal best was faster than the winning time here, but after two swims in the morning and the 200m freestyle final just before it, I felt the fatigue.”
A Medal Rush and Missed Chances
The Indian squad had several near misses on Day 1. Dhinidhi Desinghu, a rising freestyle star, finished fifth in the women’s 200m freestyle, while Rohit B Benedicton narrowly missed a medal in the men’s 100m butterfly, finishing fourth. Despite the close calls, Srihari drew positives from the team’s showing. “It’s a young squad with good depth. Quite a few made it to the finals, and that by itself is a good start. It will keep everyone motivated for the next three days,” he said.
The highlight of the evening was the men’s 4x100m medley relay, where India—comprising Rishabh Das, Likith Selvaraj Prema, Rohit B Benedicton, and Srihari—finished third in 3:40.87, behind China (3:36.93) and Chinese Taipei (3:39.40).
Silver in the 200m Freestyle
Srihari’s first medal came in the 200m freestyle, an event he has embraced more in recent seasons despite his reputation as India’s premier backstroker. Placed in lane one after a subdued heat swim, he turned the disadvantage into an unexpected strength. “The heats weren’t the best for me, and being in lane 1 wasn’t what I would have preferred,” he explained. “But it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I was swimming blind on the second 50 and even in the last lap, I couldn’t see my opponents. Sometimes that helps because you focus only on your own race.”
His effort was rewarded with silver, and the moment was made even more special by the support of the home crowd. “After the race, it sank in that it was a packed gallery cheering for me. To win a medal in front of the Chief Minister and then experience the noise during the victory ceremony—those are memories I will carry forever,” he said.
Heartbreak in the 50m Backstroke
The second final of the day brought a mix of pride and frustration. In the 50m backstroke, Srihari produced a strong swim but fell short of gold, settling for another silver. For him, this was the one that got away. “It could have been gold,” he admitted. “My best time is quicker than today’s winning mark. But with the effort in the 200m freestyle and the morning heats, the fatigue crept in. It was a setback, because I had targeted this race as my strongest chance.”
While backstroke remains his signature discipline, Srihari has been making notable strides in the 200m freestyle. The shift, he explained, is both deliberate and enjoyable.
“200m freestyle is an event I have swum since I was an age-grouper. I’ve always had good rhythm in that stroke,” he said. “This season, I made a complete switch from focusing mainly on backstroke to also training seriously for freestyle. To be able to repeat 1:48 consistently in the 200m and take a full second off is not very common. It shows I am on the right track.”
The performances in Ahmedabad are part of a larger plan as Srihari prepares for a packed calendar in 2026, which includes the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. “There will be a lot of work I’ll be doing on the 200m freestyle in the next year. At the same time, I’ll continue to race my backstroke events. The idea is to be competitive across both.”
Srihari still has multiple events lined up at the Championships, including the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 4x200m freestyle relay, and 4x100m freestyle relay. For him, the medals on Day 1 are both motivation and a reminder of the fine margins at the top level. “It was special to start the campaign this way, but I know I have more to give,” he said. “The goal is to stay focused, help my teammates, and keep pushing Indian swimming forward.”
Results: Highlights from Day 1
- Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay
🥇 China – 3:36.93
🥈 Chinese Taipei – 3:39.40
🥉 India (Rishabh Das, Likith Selvaraj Prema, Rohit B Benedicton, Srihari Nataraj) – 3:40.87 - Women’s 1500m Freestyle
🥇 Pac Tung Nikita Lam (Hong Kong) – 17:08.36
🥈 Kha Nhi Nguyen (Vietnam) – 17:23.60
🥉 Thitirat Charoensup (Thailand) – 17:30.36 - Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay
🥇 China – 4:06.16
🥈 Japan – 4:08.54
🥉 Hong Kong – 4:12.79 - Diving – Women’s 1m Springboard
🥇 Linxi Ye (China) – 264.35
🥈 Sijia Li (China) – 253.10
🥉 Ziyi Wang (Hong Kong) – 218.90
Day 1 was both a breakthrough and a reminder for Indian swimming: medals are now within reach at the Asian level, and with athletes like Srihari leading the way, the nation’s swimmers are no longer content with participation they are here to contend.
