China reaffirmed their dominance in the pool at the 11th Asian Aquatics Championship 2025, sweeping the competition with a staggering 49 medals (38 gold, 8 silver, 3 bronze) at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex.
But amid China’s supremacy, the spotlight also fell on India, which recorded its best-ever campaign, finishing with 13 medals (4 silver, 9 bronze) and a ninth-place finish overall.
It was a performance that marked a turning point for Indian aquatics, with breakthroughs not just in swimming but also in diving, where the country secured its first-ever medal.
At the heart of China’s campaign was Michael Bohl, the legendary Australian coach whose reputation precedes him. With over 33 years in the sport, Bohl has guided swimmers to Olympic medals at every Games between 2008 and 2021, with protégés like Emma McKeon and Stephanie Rice among his most celebrated pupils.
“We didn’t know what to expect coming into the meet,” Bohl admitted. “The last time it was held was in 2016 and China had 18 gold medals. That was the target we were shooting for, and I believe we got beyond that, so we are very happy.”
China’s dominance was absolute, but Bohl’s words carried equal weight for India, a nation he believes is now laying strong foundations in the pool.
India’s Breakthrough Campaign
India’s 13 medals were spread across swimming and diving, reflecting both progress and potential. The country’s new generation of swimmers stepped up impressively, with Srihari Nataraj leading the way. The Bengaluru swimmer collected seven medals (three individual, four relay) to headline India’s campaign.
He was ably supported by Rishab Das, Kushagra Rawat, Rohit B Benedicton, Sajan Prakash, and Bhavya Sachdeva, all of whom earned individual medals in their events. Sachdeva’s bronze in the women’s 400m freestyle particularly stood out, underlining the gradual rise of female swimmers in India’s ranks.
The history-making moment came in diving, where Indiver Sairem and Willson Sing Ningthoujam combined to clinch India’s first-ever medal in the discipline at an Asian-level event, signalling that aquatics beyond swimming is beginning to find roots in the country.
Youngsters such as Vritti Agarwal, Dhinidhi Desinghu, Saanvi Deshwal, Advait Page, Nithik Nathella, and Jashua Thomas Durai also displayed promise, showing that India’s depth is steadily improving.
“India Has Good Leading Swimmers, Just Needs More”
Assessing India’s campaign, Bohl was generous in his praise but clear in identifying the next step forward.
“I think India’s done a great job here. There have been some standout performers,” he noted. “The males in particular have done very well, and there was also a female who got a medal in the 400 freestyle on Wednesday night. Any time you’re getting onto the podium at an Asian-level meet, it’s a good thing for the country.”
But the veteran coach stressed that India needs to build depth to challenge consistently.
“I think you’ve got some good leading swimmers, you just need more of them,” Bohl said. “You’ve got the population, very similar to China. As coaching improves, as you get more critical mass and more swimmers performing well, it puts pressure on the top guys.”
He drew comparisons with global swimming powerhouses. “If you look at the top countries in the world USA, Australia it’s not just one or two swimmers. There’s an underpinning group doing a really good job putting pressure on the top swimmers. As soon as you start to get more depth, you’ll see even bigger improvements in swimming.”
India’s ninth-place finish may not yet put them among Asia’s swimming giants, but the results marked a sharp step up from previous campaigns. The country’s tally of 13 medals included breakthroughs across multiple events, reflecting a broadening of talent pools rather than reliance on a handful of names.
Srihari’s medal haul confirmed his status as India’s leading swimmer, but the emergence of multiple medalists in both men’s and women’s categories suggested that a new wave of swimmers is ready to carry the baton forward. For diving, the historic medal could inspire investments and grassroots participation in a sport that has long been overlooked.
Bohl’s observations underscored the importance of building an ecosystem where more athletes can compete at an elite level. With better coaching infrastructure, stronger competition structures, and long-term planning, India could soon move from being a team with standout performers to one with genuine depth across disciplines.
The 11th Asian Aquatics Championship reaffirmed China’s dominance under Michael Bohl’s guidance, but it also highlighted India’s growing presence in the continental arena. With 13 medals the nation’s best-ever tally and historic firsts in diving, Indian aquatics has turned a corner.
As Bohl aptly put it, “India has good leading swimmers, they just need more of them.” If the promise shown in Ahmedabad is nurtured, India could soon be a serious contender in Asian aquatics, challenging not just for podiums but for sustained excellence.
