How Did India Achieve Its Most Successful Performance at the Asian Aquatics Championships?
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Synopsis
The 11th Asian Aquatics Championships 2025 concluded with India achieving a historic performance, capturing 13 medals. China's dominance was evident with 49 medals. Discover the thrilling moments that defined this year's championships, and how India's athletes made their mark.
Key Takeaways
- India achieved its most successful performance with 13 medals.
- China dominated the championships with 49 medals.
- Bhavya Sachdeva won India's first women's medal in the 400m Freestyle.
- Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj also earned bronze medals.
- Upcoming events include Artistic Swimming and Water Polo.
Ahmedabad, Oct 1 (NationPress) The final day of swimming and diving events at the 11th Asian Aquatics Championships 2025 showcased China's continued dominance, as they clinched the overall champion title with an impressive haul of 49 medals (38 gold, 8 silver, 3 bronze) at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex on Wednesday.
For India, the closing day yielded four bronze medals thanks to the performances of Bhavya Sachdeva, Sajan Prakash, Srihari Nataraj, and the men’s relay team. Their contributions in the Women’s 400m Freestyle, Men’s 200m Butterfly, Men’s 100m Backstroke, and Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay elevated India’s medal count to 13 (4 silver, 9 bronze), marking the country’s most successful campaign in the history of the championships, finishing in ninth position overall.
Following China, Japan claimed second place with 18 medals (5 gold, 9 silver, 4 bronze), while Hong Kong secured third with 14 medals (3 gold, 4 silver, 7 bronze).
In the Women’s 400m Freestyle, Bhavya Sachdeva swam from lane 3, while Aditi Satish Hegde was in lane 2. Japan’s Tanimoto Haruno (4:16.39) surged ahead early, while Bhavya fought with the trailing pack to stay slightly ahead after 150m. Kha Nhi Nguyen from Vietnam (4:25.50) closely followed Bhavya until the final lap, ultimately surpassing her for the silver. Bhavya secured the bronze with a time of 4:26.89, marking India’s first medal in the women's category.
Sajan Prakash competed in the Men’s 200m Butterfly, starting from lane 3. After a slow start, he accelerated to outpace Kuan Hung Wang from Chinese Taipei (1:56.63) and Ryo Kuratsuka from Japan, but they outperformed him in the last lap, leaving Sajan to finish third with a time of 1:57.90.
In the Men’s 100m Backstroke, Srihari Nataraj started in lane four and was third at the halfway mark, slightly ahead of teammate Rishabh Das. Gukailai Wang from China (54.27) and Lu Lun Chuang from Chinese Taipei (54.45) held a slim lead until the end, allowing Srihari to take bronze in 55.23 seconds, with Rishabh coming in fourth.
The day concluded with a gripping finale in the Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay. Thomas Durai provided a solid start for India, passing the baton in third place. Akash Mani excelled in the second leg, moving India up to second behind China. Rohit B Benedicton faced stiff competition on the third lap, finishing behind Chinese Taipei’s Mu Lun Chuang. Finally, Srihari Nataraj gave it his all in the final stretch but couldn't quite overtake, resulting in India claiming bronze with a time of 3:21.49, while China finished at 3:20.24 and Chinese Taipei at 3:20.59.
The 11th Asian Aquatics Championships 2025 will continue with Artistic Swimming and Water Polo events starting October 4th, 2025.
Point of View
It's evident that the achievements of Indian athletes at the Asian Aquatics Championships are commendable. Their performance not only showcases individual talent but also reflects the progress of Indian sports on an international platform. The nation stands proud as we continue to support and develop our athletes for future competitions.
NationPress
01/10/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was India's medal tally at the Asian Aquatics Championships 2025?
India secured a total of 13 medals, comprising 4 silver and 9 bronze, marking the country's most successful performance at the championships.
Who were the top competitors at the championships?
China dominated the event with 49 medals (38 gold, 8 silver, 3 bronze), followed by Japan with 18 medals and Hong Kong with 14 medals.
When will the next events of the championship take place?
The Artistic Swimming and Water Polo events will commence on October 4th, 2025.
What were the notable performances by Indian swimmers?
Notable performances included Bhavya Sachdeva's bronze in the Women’s 400m Freestyle and Sajan Prakash's bronze in the Men’s 200m Butterfly.
Where were the championships held?
The 11th Asian Aquatics Championships 2025 took place at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad.
