A new chapter in Indian aquatics was written on Day 2 of the 11th Asian Aquatics Championships as divers Indiver Sairam and Willson Sing Ningthoujam clinched a historic bronze medal in the men’s synchronized 10m platform event.
Competing at the world-class Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, the duo scored 300.66 points, marking India’s first-ever medal in diving at this prestigious continental meet. The 18-year-old Indiver and his 32-year-old partner Willson, both hailing from Manipur and training at the Army Sports Institute (ASI) in Pune, held their composure against seasoned opponents from Asia’s diving powerhouses. They finished behind China’s Zhangyu Cui and Zhanhong Xu (381.75 points) and Malaysia’s Bertrand Rhodict Lises and Enrique M. Harold (329.73), while edging out Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei, who settled for fourth and fifth respectively.
A Historic Breakthrough for Indian Diving
For decades, Indian divers have remained on the fringes of international competitions, often overshadowed by swimming’s more visible success stories. Monday’s bronze, therefore, carries enormous significance. Not only does it put Indian diving on the continental medal map, but it also positions Indiver and Willson as serious contenders for next year’s Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
“This medal changes the narrative for diving in India,” said an elated Willson after the medal ceremony. Indiver, the youngest member of the squad, echoed the sentiment: “It feels surreal. To stand on the podium with China and Malaysia, countries we’ve admired, is a proud moment for us and for Indian diving.”
The credit for this transformation also goes to coach Shannon Roy, an Australian appointed by ASI. Roy, who has been working with the pair for the past two years, explained the deliberate strategy behind their progress. “When I started, they were quite behind the rest of Asia,” Roy admitted. “Over the last six months, we’ve put intense focus on synchronized events, both platform and 3m springboard. We invested in overseas camps in Malaysia and participated at the World Championships in Singapore. Exposure to that high calibre of competition was critical.”
Roy emphasized the unique challenge of synchronized diving: “Competing as a pair is very different from individual events. Timing, body control, and trust in each other are key. Getting them used to that dynamic was our first priority, and today’s result is proof of their growth.”
Kushagra Rawat Adds Bronze in Swimming
India also celebrated success in the pool, where Kushagra Rawat claimed bronze in the men’s 1500m freestyle. Clocking 15:30.88, the Delhi swimmer produced a gritty performance, though he fell short of the leaders. Vietnam’s Huy Hoang Nguyen clinched gold with a dominant 15:15.01, while Uzbekistan’s Ilya Sibirtsev took silver in 15:23.35. Kushagra, who has been one of India’s most consistent distance swimmers, once again demonstrated his ability to stay competitive against Asia’s elite. His medal ensured that India added to its tally across both diving and swimming on Day 2.
The day saw several Indian swimmers reach finals, though medals remained elusive outside of Kushagra’s performance. Notably:
Rishabh Das finished with bronze in the men’s 200m backstroke (2:02.64), behind China’s Gukailai Wang (1:59.78) and Japan’s Rui Yoshida (2:01.66). Multiple swimmers, including relay squads, made finals, signaling the growing depth of Indian swimming. Internationally, China continued its dominance with multiple golds, including Haiyang Qin’s lightning-fast 26.99s in the men’s 50m breaststroke and Mingyu Luo’s victory in the women’s 50m freestyle (25.53).
Significance of the Bronze in Diving
The synchronized diving bronze is more than just a medal—it is a milestone. India has historically struggled to make inroads in diving, where technical expertise and infrastructure often lag behind global standards. The achievement of Indiver and Willson provides proof that with the right coaching, exposure, and institutional backing, Indian divers can compete against the continent’s best.
It also underscores the role of institutions like the Army Sports Institute, which has nurtured talent not just in mainstream Olympic sports but also in disciplines like diving that require specialized training and support.
With several days of competition still to come, India will look to build on this momentum. Swimmers like Srihari Nataraj, Dhinidhi Desinghu, and Rujula Shashidhara are expected to feature in key finals, while diving’s historic medal will serve as a source of motivation for the entire squad.
For Indiver and Willson, the focus now shifts to consolidating this breakthrough. With the Asian Games in Nagoya 2026 and the World Aquatics Championships looming on the horizon, the challenge will be to replicate and build upon this performance against even stronger fields. Coach Roy summed it up best: “This is just the beginning. Today they proved they belong here. Tomorrow, we want them challenging for silver and gold.”
Day 2 Medal Highlights
Swimming – Men’s 1500m Freestyle
🥇 Huy Hoang Nguyen (Vietnam) – 15:15.01
🥈 Ilya Sibirtsev (Uzbekistan) – 15:23.35
🥉 Kushagra Rawat (India) – 15:30.88
Swimming – Men’s 200m Backstroke
🥇 Gukailai Wang (China) – 1:59.78
🥈 Rui Yoshida (Japan) – 2:01.66
🥉 Rishabh Das (India) – 2:02.64
Diving – Men’s Synchronized 10m Platform
🥇 Zhangyu Cui / Zhanhong Xu (China) – 381.75
🥈 Bertrand Rhodict Lises / Enrique M. Harold (Malaysia) – 329.73
🥉 Indiver Sairam / Willson Sing Ningthoujam (India) – 300.66
Day 2 of the Asian Aquatics Championships will be remembered not just for medals, but for the breaking of barriers. India’s swimmers continued to inch closer to continental podiums, while its divers finally arrived. For Indiver and Willson, the bronze medal is a dream fulfilled and a promise of what lies ahead. For Indian aquatics, it is a statement: the nation is no longer content to watch from the sidelines. It is ready to dive in and compete.
