Hyderabad: Rising Indian swimmers Aryan Nehra and Lineysha AK showcased exceptional performances at the 76th edition of the Senior National Aquatic Championship, which concluded in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Surpassing Tokyo Olympians Sajan Prakash and Maana Patel, the talented duo emerged as the top performers in the prestigious event.
The national swimming championship took place at Hyderabad’s GMC Balayogi Sports Complex in Telangana and held great significance as a qualifying event for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. Additionally, it served as the final opportunity for Indian swimmers to secure their spots for the Asian Games, scheduled to be held in China later this year.
The qualifying benchmark for individual events at the Asian Games was set by the sixth-place finisher in the previous edition of the Asian Games held in Jakarta in 2018.
Aryan Nehra, who had already secured a place in the continental showpiece event for the men’s 800 metre freestyle, distinguished himself by clinching four gold medals at the National Aquatic Championship 2023, making him the most successful swimmer of the tournament.
In addition to his gold medal haul, Aryan Nehra broke several national swimming records during the meet. The 19-year-old prodigy triumphed in the men’s 400-metre freestyle with a time of 3:52.55, surpassing the previous record of 3:52.75 held by Kushagra Rawat. Prominent swimmers such as Sajan Prakash, Kushagra Rawat, and Advait Page were also part of the thrilling race.
Sajan Prakash, a Tokyo Olympian, made a resounding comeback by claiming gold medals in his specialty events, the men’s 100m and 200m butterfly.
Aryan Nehra’s remaining three gold medals came in the 800m freestyle, 1500m freestyle, and 400m medley events, with the latter resulting in another national record. These stellar performances earned him the title of the best swimmer in the men’s category.
Lineysha AK, on the other hand, emerged as the best swimmer in the women’s category, securing two gold medals and one silver. Lineysha triumphed in the 100- and 200-metre breaststroke events, setting national records. However, she settled for silver in the 50-metre breaststroke, finishing behind Manavi Varma.
Maana Patel, a Tokyo Olympian, showcased her prowess by breaking her own national record in the women’s 100-metre backstroke, claiming the gold medal. However, she had to settle for silver in the 50-metre backstroke, with Suvana Baskar taking the top spot. Meanwhile, Siva Sridhar, who clinched three gold medals in the previous edition, secured a solitary gold in the 200-metre medley event.
Among other notable performances, Nina Venkatesh made a splash by breaking national records in the women’s 50m and 100m butterfly events. Additionally, 13-year-old Dhinidhi Desinghu from Karnataka set a national record in the 200-metre freestyle, clocking an impressive time of 2:04.24.
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