Indian swimmers have made notable progress at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. Among them, Srihari Nataraj has secured a spot in the semifinals of the men’s 50m backstroke, while para-swimmers Karthik Budigina and Ali Imam have advanced to the final of the men’s 100m freestyle S13 event.
Sajan Prakash, a two-time Olympian, is also participating in his fourth Commonwealth Games. He is set to compete in his preferred 200 metres butterfly event on Monday, July 27. Prakash leads a five-member Indian swimming contingent, which includes Nataraj, Aryan Nehra, Aneesh Gowda, and Dhakshian Shashikumar.
Nataraj and Para-Swimmers Progress
Srihari Nataraj, a two-time Olympian and holder of multiple national records, qualified for the men’s 50m backstroke semifinals by finishing joint 14th in the heats. He recorded a time of 25.52 seconds, placing fifth in his eight-man heat. This performance secured his place among the top 16 swimmers who advanced to the semifinals. Nataraj had previously qualified for the Games with a standard of 25.39 seconds and aims to improve his heat performance in the upcoming semifinal.
In para-swimming, both Karthik Budigina and Ali Imam reached the final of the 100m freestyle S13 event. Budigina, an 18-year-old making his Commonwealth Games debut, finished third in his heat with a time of 57.10 seconds. He was fourth at the turn but delivered a strong finish to secure a top-three position. Great Britain’s Stephen Clegg led the heats with a time of 56.57 seconds, with Budigina 0.53 seconds behind the fastest qualifier.
Imam also advanced to the final despite finishing last in his heat with a time of 1:05.32. All eight swimmers who competed in the S13 event heats progressed to the medal race. The S13 classification is for athletes with visual impairments. Budigina, who transitioned from rowing to swimming during the COVID-19 pandemic, is considered one of India’s promising para-swimmers. Imam, also a debutant, typically competes in the S12 classification but participated in the S13 event.
Sajan Prakash’s Aspirations
Sajan Prakash, at 32 years old, views the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Aichi Nagoya in September as crucial opportunities. He aims to complete what he describes as ‘unfinished business’ and also contribute to the development of swimming in India. Prakash’s best moment in his career came when he became the first Indian swimmer to achieve the Olympic A cut before Tokyo 2020.
After a break from competitive swimming due to burnout following his failure to qualify for Paris 2024, Prakash expressed cautious optimism about his current form. He stated his desire to achieve a personal best and secure medals for the country, believing that both are important. A personal best reflects training progress, while medals elevate the country’s standing on the world stage.
Prakash also shared his long-term vision for Indian swimming, expressing a desire to be an agent of change. He intends to develop his own coaching program to guide the next generation of swimmers. He believes that his extensive experience in the sport positions him to make a significant impact. His sabbatical from the pool after the Paris qualifications was a sensitive topic, but Prakash, who began swimming at the age of six, understood the importance of rest for recovery.
Regarding his current preparedness, Prakash noted that his body’s capacity and recovery are in a much better state. He has focused on endurance and aerobic build-ups, establishing a strong foundation. He acknowledges that fractions of seconds will determine podium finishes at the Commonwealth Games and that the team is working on minute adjustments to address these challenges. Prakash is currently focused on his performance in Glasgow and Aichi Nagoya before making decisions about future competitions.
India will have three swimmers competing in the evening session, with Budigina and Imam vying for medals in the para-swimming final, followed by Nataraj’s attempt to reach the men’s 50m backstroke final.
Source: nationalheraldindia.com
Priya Nair
Sports Reporter
