Why was Srihari Nataraj Disappointed After Missing Gold in 50m Backstroke?
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Synopsis
At the Asian Aquatic Championships in Ahmedabad, Srihari Nataraj reflects on a promising start for India, sharing his emotions after narrowly missing gold in the 50m backstroke. His insights reveal the challenges and triumphs faced by the team, highlighting a historic moment for Indian swimming.
Key Takeaways
- Historic medal wins for India at the Asian Aquatic Championships after a 16-year gap.
- Srihari Nataraj reflects on his performance and missed opportunities for gold.
- A young and talented Indian swimming team shows promise for future competitions.
- The atmosphere at the event was electrifying, with strong support from the home crowd.
- Upcoming events for Srihari include critical races in freestyle and backstroke.
Ahmedabad, Sep 2 (NationPress) Following an impressive kickoff for the Indian team at the 11th Asian Aquatic Championships held at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, double Olympian Srihari Nataraj shared insights on his performance and the results from the opening day, which featured several nail-biting finishes from Indian swimmers.
After securing back-to-back silver medals in the 200m freestyle and 50m backstroke events, Srihari helped lead India to a bronze in the 4x100m medley relay.
This medal collection marked the end of a 16-year drought; the last time Indian swimmers reached the podium at this esteemed event was in 2009 in China, when Vidhawal Khade, Sandeep Sejwal, and Aaron D’Souza won medals.
“We had a fantastic start to our campaign. Day 1 exceeded expectations. We narrowly missed additional medals with Dhinidhi (5th place in 200m freestyle) and Rohit (4th place in 100m butterfly),” Srihari expressed. “This young team has great depth, and many reached the finals, which serves as excellent motivation for the upcoming days.” At 24 years old, Srihari is currently pursuing an MBA at Jain Deemed-to-be University in Bengaluru.
Reflecting on his own performance, Srihari noted, “My heats were not ideal. Competing in lane 1 for the 200m freestyle wasn't my preference, but it turned out to be beneficial. I swam blind during the second 50m and even in the last 50m. The atmosphere was electric, with the crowd cheering for me, especially in front of the Chief Minister. It was a unique experience winning a medal at home.”
After competing in the 50m backstroke shortly after his 200m freestyle race, Srihari felt disappointed. He believed that the 50m backstroke was his best shot at gold. “I had the potential for gold in the 50m backstroke. My personal best matched the gold medal time. However, fatigue from the earlier events affected my performance,” he explained.
Discussing his transition to middle-distance swimming and his enjoyment of focusing on the 200m freestyle, Srihari stated, “I will continue to swim backstrokes, but the 200m freestyle is an event I’ve participated in since my early years. I perform well in it even without specific training. This season has been a complete shift, and achieving a time of 1:48 in the 200m freestyle is commendable. Reducing my time by a second is rare, but I managed to do it. I have significant work ahead for next year.”
Srihari still has several events left, including the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 4x200m freestyle relay, and 4x100m freestyle relay.
Results:
Swimming
Men
4x100m Medley Relay: 1. China (Gukailai Wang, Haiyang Qin, Taiyu Li, Haoyu Wang) 3:36.93; 2. Chinese Taipei (Mu Lun Chuang, Hsin Hao Wang, Kuan Hung Wang, Kun Ming Fu) 3:39.40; 3. India (Rishabh Das, Likith Selvaraj Prema, Rohit B Benedicton, Srihari Nataraj) 3:40.87
Women
1500m Freestyle: 1. Pac Tung Nikita Lam (Hong Kong) 17:08.36; 2. Kha Nhi Nguyen (Vietnam) 17:23.60; 3. Thitirat Charoensup (Thailand) 17:30.36
4x100m Medley Relay: 1. China (Jiawei Li, Yijing Wang, Zhenqi Gong, Mingyu Luo) 4:06.16; 2. Japan (Misaki Kasahara, Mana Ishikawa, Manami Miyamoto, Minami Yui) 4:08.54; 3 Hong Kong (Tsz Yu Ashley Chan, Jialian Candice Gao, Wui Kiu Man, Sum Yiu Li) 4:12.79
Diving
Women's 1m Springboard: 1. Linxi Ye (China) 264.35; 2. Sijia Li (China) 253.10; 3. Ziyi Wang (Hong Kong) 218.90.
Point of View
I believe that Srihari Nataraj's journey is a testament to resilience and the evolving prowess of Indian swimming on the international stage. His reflections not only showcase personal challenges but also highlight the teamwork and dedication of a young, talented group aiming for glory.
NationPress
29/09/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What medals did Srihari Nataraj win at the Championships?
Srihari won silver medals in the 200m freestyle and 50m backstroke, and a bronze medal in the 4x100m medley relay.
How did Srihari feel about his performance?
He expressed disappointment for not winning gold in the 50m backstroke, viewing it as his best chance.
What upcoming events will Srihari compete in?
Srihari will compete in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 4x200m freestyle relay, and 4x100m freestyle relay.
What are the key achievements of Indian swimmers in the event?
The Indian team ended a 16-year wait for medals at the Asian Aquatic Championships, marking a significant milestone.
What is Srihari's current academic pursuit?
Srihari is currently pursuing an MBA at Jain Deemed-to-be University in Bengaluru.
