Ahmedabad, Sep 28 (NationPress) In a remarkable display, 24-year-old Srihari Nataraj initiated India's medal tally at the 11th Asian Aquatics Championships held at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, securing a Silver medal in both the 200m freestyle and 50m backstroke events for men.

He achieved a notable time of 1:48.47 seconds in the 200m freestyle, finishing second to China's Haibo XU, who recorded 1:46.83 for the gold medal. In the 50m backstroke, Srihari clocked 25.46 seconds to secure another Silver, falling behind China's Gukailai Wang, who won gold with a time of 25.11 seconds.

Shifting focus towards middle-distance events alongside his specialties in 50m and 100m backstroke, Srihari commenced his finals campaign strongly in the 200m freestyle. Competing from lane no.1, he matched Haibo's pace, recording a 25.10 second split for the first 50m, slightly trailing behind Haibo’s 24.93 seconds.

Utilizing swift turns and effective underwater kicks, Srihari maintained a competitive tempo with splits of 52.35 seconds and 1:20.39 seconds for the subsequent 50m, while Haibo recorded 51.81 and 1:19.41 respectively. In the 50m backstroke, Srihari surged ahead from the onset, keeping pace with Gukailai Wang from China.

In the women’s 200m freestyle, Japan’s Minami Yui took an early lead at the 25m mark, closely followed by compatriot Hanari Runo. Midway, Runo overtook Yui, seizing the lead. As Yui began to falter, Vietnam’s T.M.T. Vo and India’s Dhinidhi Desinghu closed the gap, moving into second and third.

The final stretch showcased a thrilling finish where Hong Kong’s Xintong Wang and Japan’s H. Tanimoto surged ahead, pushing past Desinghu (2:02.84), who ultimately finished fifth despite breaking the national record at 2:02.97.

Reflecting on Srihari's impressive performance, India’s Head Coach Nihar Ameen expressed, “It’s phenomenal to secure back-to-back medals on the opening day, and Srihari is aiming for a third in the relay later tonight. This achievement is unprecedented in the Asian Championships and marks a significant milestone for India.”

Addressing the focus on middle-distance events, Nihar stated, “We believed he was concentrating too much on backstroke. He is naturally adept at freestyle, and having a solid foundation made the 200m a promising event for him. Winning a medal here positions him well for the upcoming CWG and Asian Games next year.”