Day of Contrasts: Srihari Nataraj National Records Shine as Indian Teams Falter at FISU World University Games 2025
Day 2 of the FISU World University Games 2025 unfolded with India experiencing a dramatic mix of triumph and disappointment across Germany’s six host cities. From thrilling swims and table tennis heroics to basketball heartbreaks and volleyball struggles, the day showcased both the promise of young Indian athletes and the challenges they face at this elite stage.
Swimming Spotlight: Srihari Nataraj Scripts History Again
The morning belonged to India’s swimmers, and especially to Srihari Nataraj, who continued his record-breaking form. Competing in the men’s 200m freestyle heats, Srihari stunned the pool by clocking 1:48.22 surpassing Sajan Prakash’s previous best Indian mark of 1:49.73 and even bettering his own earlier record of 1:48.66. This swim placed him fifth fastest overall and comfortably into the semifinals.
Later that evening, under the floodlights, Srihari returned to the water and nearly repeated the feat. Swimming against stronger competition, he clocked 1:48.11 breaking the national record once more. However, he narrowly missed a spot in the final by just 0.07 seconds. Two national records in one day, yet the bittersweet reality of missing the final underlined the razor-thin margins of international swimming.
Elsewhere, it was a mixed day for India’s swimmers. In the women’s 400m medley heats, Bhavya (5:17.62) and Shrungi (5:16.90) failed to progress, finishing at the bottom among 21 swimmers. In the men’s 100m backstroke, Nithik clocked 57.43 to finish second in his heat but placed 29th overall, missing the semifinals.
In the women’s 100m freestyle, Nina and Latiesha topped their slower heat but ranked 41st and 47th respectively out of 60, ending their challenge. Birthday boy Shoan Ganguly clocked 2:05.17 in the 200m individual medley, placing 29th, while teammate Anurag Singh finished last in the heat. Meanwhile, Naga (34.66) and Rithvika (34.78) in the women’s 50m breaststroke also ended outside semifinal contention.
Table Tennis: Women’s Team Steals the Show
The day’s biggest team triumph came in table tennis. The Indian women’s team, led by the resilient Sayali Wani, delivered an inspired performance to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
They began by defeating the Netherlands 3-1 in the Round of 32. Sayali gave India the lead with a tense five-game win, followed by Taneesha and Pritha contributing crucial victories.
In the Round of 16 against France, Sayali once again set the tone, edging past Lutz in a thrilling five-game battle. Though France hit back and the tie balanced at 2-2, Sayali produced another clinical win in the decider, sealing India’s place in the last eight against Poland.
The men’s team faced a contrasting day. After losing the opening match to Colombia, Ayaz and Harkuwar fought back to give India a 2-1 lead. Yet Ayaz lost the fourth match, and Devarsh couldn’t close the decider, resulting in a 2-3 defeat. Later at night, India lost 0-3 to China, ending their hopes.
Tennis: Confident Starts and Tougher Tests Ahead
Indian tennis players made promising starts. In the men’s doubles, Maan and Kabir dominated their Thai opponents 6-1, 6-1 to progress to the Round of 16. They next face the winner of Britain vs. Germany for a quarterfinal spot.
Anjali Rathi won her women’s singles match against an opponent from Uganda without dropping a game. Her next opponent, Li Zongyu (WR287), promises a far sterner challenge.
Vaishnavi Adkar also notched up victory in her rd 1 match
Mixed Fortunes in Fencing and Taekwondo
In fencing, Balram Joshi provided hope by defeating Taipei’s Wu 15-12 to enter the Round of 128. However, his campaign ended with a 5-15 loss to American fencer Diego. Indian athletes in women’s foil couldn’t progress deep into the draw.
In taekwondo, the Indian women’s team in poomsae defeated Ecuador (8.249–7.950) in the Round of 16, while the men’s team fell to powerhouse South Korea (7.265–8.966).
Basketball and Volleyball: Tough Lessons
Team sports brought more pain than joy. In women’s 5×5 basketball, India faced a heavy 33–137 defeat to the Czech Republic, with scoring struggles evident across all quarters. Riya Pramod top-scored with 13 points. The team now faces Argentina next.
The men’s 3×3 basketball team also exited after losing to Germany (6-21) and Mongolia (19-21). Despite a brave late push against Mongolia, India fell short.
In women’s volleyball, India suffered a third consecutive straight-set loss, going down to Spain (14-25, 14-25, 14-25).
Other Highlights and Upcoming Challenges
Elsewhere, in swimming, the day began with Bhavya and Shrungi competing in the slowest heat of the women’s 400m medley, finishing well outside finals qualification. In the 100m backstroke, Nithik clocked 57.43 but did not advance. Aneesh Gowda’s 1:52.42 in the men’s 200m freestyle was similarly insufficient for progression.
In badminton, India drew the USA in the pre-quarterfinals of the mixed team event. Should they advance, they would likely face Malaysia in the quarterfinals a tough but motivating path.
A Day Defined by Srihari’s Brilliance
Despite setbacks in team sports, Day 2 ultimately belonged to Srihari Nataraj. His morning heat swim set the tone, breaking the national record. His semifinal swim, though narrowly missing the final, pushed the national mark even further. Two national records in a single day highlight both his consistency and determination to push Indian swimming forward.
The women’s table tennis team’s fighting spirit also stood out, especially the composed performances of Sayali Wani under pressure.
Looking Ahead
As the World University Games continue, India’s athletes remain in the hunt for breakthroughs. Eyes will be on swimmers to build on Srihari’s momentum, while tennis and women’s table tennis teams look to deepen their campaigns. The next few days will test India’s resilience, but Day 2’s flashes of brilliance show why this young contingent can still script memorable moments.
Stay tuned as India’s journey in Germany unfolds, marked by new records, team spirit, and the pursuit of medals on the world stage.
