CWG 2026: Nataraj books 100m backstroke SF spot; Sajan Prakash bows out
Synopsis
Srihari Nataraj is two swims away from becoming only the second Indian in history to win a Commonwealth Games swimming medal — a record that has stood since Prasanta Karmakar's bronze at the 2010 Delhi Games. His 55.58s backstroke heat effort in Glasgow was workmanlike, not spectacular, but the semifinal is where it counts.
Key Takeaways
Srihari Nataraj qualified for the men's 100m backstroke semifinals at CWG 2026 in Glasgow on 28 July , clocking 55.58 seconds to finish 13th overall .
His personal best and Indian national record stands at 53.77 seconds , set in 2021 .
Sajan Prakash , 32 , finished 28th in the men's 50m butterfly heats with 24.94 seconds , ending his CWG 2026 campaign.
Prakash also finished eighth in Monday's men's 200m butterfly final, clocking 1:58.05 against his national record of 1:56.38 .
A medal for Nataraj would make him only the second Indian swimmer to win a Commonwealth Games medal, after Prasanta Karmakar's bronze at the 2010 Delhi Games .
Srihari Nataraj kept India's Commonwealth Games 2026 swimming campaign alive on Tuesday, 28 July, advancing to the men's 100m backstroke semifinals in Glasgow, while veteran Sajan Prakash saw his Games come to a close after failing to qualify in the men's 50m butterfly.
Nataraj Advances to Backstroke Semifinals
The Bengaluru-born two-time Olympian and India's national record holder clocked 55.58 seconds to finish fifth in his heat and 13th overall across all heats, comfortably placing within the fastest 16 swimmers required for semifinal qualification. Nataraj split the race with a 26.26-second opening 50 metres before touching the wall at 55.58.
The timing was well outside his personal best of 53.77 seconds — set in 2021 and still the Indian national record — but proved more than adequate to keep his medal aspirations intact. The 25-year-old had also featured in India's men's 4x200m freestyle relay team the previous day, a squad that reached the final and finished sixth.
Sajan Prakash's Campaign Ends in Disappointment
For Sajan Prakash, the day brought further frustration. Competing in the ninth and final heat of the men's 50m butterfly, the 32-year-old two-time Olympian touched the wall in 24.94 seconds, placing eighth in his heat and 28th overall — well short of the qualification mark and significantly below his national record of 23.83 seconds.
The result compounded a difficult campaign for one of India's most experienced swimmers. On Monday, Prakash had finished eighth in the men's 200m butterfly final with a time of 1:58.05, itself below his personal best and national record of 1:56.38. His Glasgow campaign concludes without a semifinal or final appearance beyond the preliminary rounds.
India's Medal Hopes Rest on Nataraj
With Prakash's exit, India's remaining prospects in the Glasgow pool rest almost entirely on Nataraj's backstroke run. Should he convert his semifinal berth into a podium finish, he would become only the second Indian swimmer to win a Commonwealth Games medal.
Notably, Prasanta Karmakar remains the country's sole Commonwealth Games swimming medallist to date, having claimed bronze in the men's 50m freestyle S9 para event at the 2010 Delhi Games — a record that has stood for 16 years.
What's Next
Nataraj's 100m backstroke semifinal was scheduled later on Tuesday. His progression to the final, and any medal, would mark a historic milestone for Indian competitive swimming at the Commonwealth Games.
Point of View
Not a ceiling — the real story is whether Indian swimming can finally end a 16-year medal drought at the Commonwealth Games. Prakash's double disappointment in Glasgow underlines a recurring pattern: India's senior swimmers often arrive at major Games below their personal-best form, raising questions about peaking cycles and competition exposure in the lead-up. If Nataraj does medal, it will be as much a systemic question mark as a personal triumph — one swimmer carrying a sport's entire CWG legacy on his back.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Srihari Nataraj qualify for the CWG 2026 100m backstroke semifinals?
Yes. Nataraj clocked 55.58 seconds to finish 13th overall across all heats in Glasgow on 28 July 2026, placing comfortably within the fastest 16 swimmers required for semifinal qualification.
Why did Sajan Prakash exit the Commonwealth Games 2026?
Sajan Prakash finished 28th overall in the men's 50m butterfly heats with a time of 24.94 seconds, well outside the qualification places. He had also finished eighth in Monday's 200m butterfly final, concluding a difficult Glasgow campaign.
What is Nataraj's personal best in the 100m backstroke?
Nataraj's personal best is 53.77 seconds, set in 2021, which also stands as the Indian national record in the event.
Who is the only Indian swimmer to have won a Commonwealth Games medal?
Prasanta Karmakar is the sole Indian swimmer to have won a Commonwealth Games medal, claiming bronze in the men's 50m freestyle S9 para event at the 2010 Delhi Games. Nataraj could become the second if he medals in Glasgow.
How did India's 4x200m freestyle relay team perform at CWG 2026?
India's men's 4x200m freestyle relay team, which included Nataraj, reached the final but finished sixth at CWG 2026 in Glasgow.
