Rujula S Becomes India’s Fastest Woman Swimmer, Breaks 17-Year-Old National Record at Senior Nationals
At the 78th Senior National Aquatics Championships in Bhubaneswar, history was rewritten in the blink of an eye 26.36 seconds to be exact. Karnataka’s Rujula S emerged as the fastest woman swimmer in India, smashing a 17-year-old national record in the 50m freestyle, a record that had stood since 2008 in the name of swimming legend Shikha Tandon.
Rujula clocked 26.36 seconds, eclipsing Tandon’s 2008 benchmark of 26.37s, not only setting a new national record but also claiming the Best Indian Performance in the event. The milestone came at the Aquatic Centre inside Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium, where some of India’s top swimmers gathered for the premier national competition.
This feat, albeit just 0.01 seconds faster than the previous record, marked a watershed moment in Indian women’s sprint swimming. In a sport where milliseconds define champions, Rujula’s finish was not just about speed it was symbolic of a generational shift and a signal of India’s growing depth in women’s swimming.
The women’s 50m freestyle final turned out to be one of the most competitive races of the day. Avantika Sudhir Chavan of the Railways Sports Promotion Board gave a solid fight, clocking 26.58s to take the silver, while Dhinidhi Desinghu, another Karnataka prodigy, secured bronze with 26.69s.
Rujula’s effort was met with widespread applause, especially considering the stature of the record she broke. Shikha Tandon had been a pioneering figure in Indian swimming, having represented the country at the 2004 Athens Olympics and earning multiple international medals. For Rujula, to surpass her benchmark is a statement of intent as Indian swimmers aim to make their mark on the global stage.
Other Key Highlights from the Nationals
While Rujula’s record-breaking swim made headlines, the day was packed with high-octane performances across various events, showcasing the depth and potential of India’s swimming talent.
Aryan Nehra Edges Past Rivals in Thrilling Men’s 400m Freestyle
In a dramatic men’s 400m freestyle final, Olympian Aryan Nehra of Gujarat touched home in 3:55.96, narrowly beating Kushagra Rawat of Delhi, who clocked 3:56.84. Karnataka’s Aneesh S Gowda, another consistent performer, secured the bronze with 3:57.17. The top three finished within a span of just over a second, setting up a new wave of rivalry among India’s top distance freestylers.
Bhavya Sachdeva Sets Meet Record in Women’s 1500m Freestyle
Delhi’s Bhavya Sachdeva dominated the 1500m freestyle, winning gold with a time of 17:35.07, setting a National Meet Record in the process. Telangana’s Vritti Agarwal and Karnataka’s Thanya Shadakshari followed closely, with times of 17:41.36 and 17:41.40, respectively.
Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj Cruise to Gold
India’s Olympic veterans, Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj, showcased their class once again. Sajan clinched gold in the men’s 200m butterfly with a timing of 1:58.98, comfortably ahead of his competitors. In the men’s 50m backstroke, Srihari touched the wall at 25.70, maintaining his dominant form.
Tamil Nadu Breaks Relay Record
The men’s 4x100m medley relay saw a spirited performance from the Tamil Nadu quartet of Nithik Nathella, Danush Suresh, B. Benedicton Rohit, and Adhithya Dinesh, who clocked 3:45.09 to set a new National Meet Record. Karnataka and RSPB took second and third place, respectively.
More Women’s Highlights: Dhinidhi Desinghu’s Rising Stock
Dhinidhi Desinghu, already among India’s most promising young swimmers, made further waves in the 200m freestyle, breaking her own national record with a time of 2:02.97 earlier during the meet. The youngest Olympian from India continues to show remarkable progress, and her podium finish in the 50m freestyle underscored her sprinting ability too.
A Day of Records and Rivalries
The 78th Senior Nationals in Bhubaneswar is proving to be a stage for both established names and emerging stars. From Rujula S’s lightning swim to record-breaking distance swims by Bhavya and Dhinidhi, the championship is witnessing a healthy mix of youth and experience.
Summary of Indian Performances on Day:
- Rujula S (Karnataka) broke a 17-year-old national record in 50m freestyle (26.36s), becoming India’s fastest woman swimmer.
- Bhavya Sachdeva (Delhi) won the 1500m freestyle gold with a National Meet Record (17:35.07).
- Aryan Nehra (Gujarat) won the 400m freestyle in 3:55.96, edging Kushagra Rawat and Aneesh Gowda.
- Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj comfortably won the 200m butterfly and 50m backstroke, respectively.
- Dhinidhi Desinghu (Karnataka) won bronze in 50m freestyle, after earlier smashing the 200m freestyle national record.
- Tamil Nadu won the men’s 4x100m medley relay, setting a new meet record (3:45.09).
Final Word
Rujula S’s record-breaking swim has injected a new sense of optimism in Indian swimming circles. With the Olympic cycle well underway, her performance—along with the continued excellence of Nehra, Dhinidhi, Srihari, and Sajan—signals that Indian swimming is not only evolving but also ready to challenge global benchmarks in the near future.
