Indian swimming continued to make waves at the 11th Asian Aquatics Championships in Ahmedabad, as the country’s swimmers produced a string of record-breaking performances, underlining their rapid rise in the continental circuit.
From a new national record in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay to individual medals for Srihari Nataraj and Rohit Benedicton, India’s campaign is turning into its most memorable yet.
National Record in Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay
One of the highlights came in the Mixed 4x100m Freestyle Relay, where the Indian team of Srihari Nataraj, Aakash Mani, Dhinidhi Desinghu, and Rujula clocked 3:35.44, bettering the previous national mark of 3:38.24. The quartet finished fifth overall, but the result was significant in terms of progress, with the timing reflecting India’s growing depth across men’s and women’s freestyle.
The splits told the story of a well-balanced effort:
- Srihari Nataraj: 49.22s
- Aakash Mani: 50.92s
- Dhinidhi Desinghu: 56.44s
- Rujula: 58.86s
Nataraj’s opening leg set the tone, with his sub-50s performance handing India a competitive start. Mani followed with a solid swim, while Dhinidhi and Rujula kept the momentum steady against strong opposition from China, Japan, and Korea.
Though a medal was out of reach, the record-breaking effort symbolised the steady improvement of India’s relay teams, who are now starting to chip away at international standards.
Rohit Benedicton Makes History in 50m Butterfly
If the relay showcased India’s collective strength, Rohit Benedicton underlined individual brilliance with a sensational swim in the men’s 50m butterfly final. The 22-year-old clinched silver with a timing of 23.89s, shattering his own national record of 23.96s, set just two months ago at the World University Games.
With this performance, Rohit became the first Indian swimmer to break the 24-second barrier in the 50m fly, marking a milestone for Indian swimming in the sprint events. His progression over the past three months has been remarkable:
- 24.11s at the National Championships (June 2025)
- 24.00s in early July
- 23.96s at the World University Games (July 2025)
- 23.89s at the Asian Championships (September 2025)
This consistent downward trajectory highlights not only his growing consistency but also his ability to deliver on the big stage.
Rohit’s medal was India’s second podium in butterfly events at the continental level, following Sajan Prakash’s earlier successes. More importantly, it confirmed India’s arrival as a competitive nation in short-distance sprint disciplines.
In the same final, Jananjoy Hazarika finished a commendable fifth with a time of 24.25s, further adding depth to India’s butterfly contingent.
Srihari Nataraj Adds to His Medal Haul
India’s most decorated swimmer at these championships, Srihari Nataraj, continued his golden run by clinching bronze in the men’s 100m freestyle final. The 24-year-old clocked 49.96s, just outside his personal best and national record of 49.46s, but enough to hold off stiff competition for third place.
The event was won by China’s Wang Haoyu in 49.19s, with Qatar’s Hassan Ali Tamer taking silver in 49.46s. India’s Aakash Mani, who had impressed in the heats, narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish in 50.45s.
For Nataraj, this bronze marked his fifth medal of the championships a tally that includes multiple individual podiums and relay successes. His consistent presence in finals and ability to convert opportunities into medals highlight his evolution into a complete swimmer capable of competing across distances and strokes.
With these latest results, India’s overall count at the 11th Asian Aquatics Championships has risen to nine medals the country’s best-ever showing at the event. This includes multiple podiums across freestyle, butterfly, and relay events, making it a breakthrough edition for Indian swimming.
Nataraj has been at the forefront, but the emergence of athletes like Rohit Benedicton and Jananjoy Hazarika in butterfly, along with the promising relay performances, signal that India’s success is no longer dependent on a handful of names.
These performances are particularly significant given the context of Indian swimming’s growth in the past five years. From largely being seen as an outsider in Asian competitions, India is now consistently producing finalists and medalists across multiple disciplines.
The relay record suggests that Indian men’s and women’s freestyle swimmers are bridging the gap with Asia’s elite. Meanwhile, Rohit’s sub-24 breakthrough puts him on the radar for world-level competitions, including the World Aquatics Championships and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics cycle.
For Nataraj, the 100m freestyle bronze adds another feather in his cap and cements his status as the country’s premier male swimmer. His consistency across distances has been the cornerstone of India’s progress at continental and world events.
Conclusion
The 11th Asian Aquatics Championships in Ahmedabad has already secured its place in history as a turning point for Indian swimming. The national record in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay, Rohit Benedicton’s silver and record in the 50m butterfly, and Srihari Nataraj’s fifth medal with bronze in the 100m freestyle are milestones that point to a bright future.
As India closes in on double-digit medals at a single continental championship, the message is clear: the nation is no longer a peripheral player in swimming. With depth improving, records falling, and medals multiplying, the pool is finally reflecting India’s growing ambition in aquatic sports.
