Top Swimmers Compete in 77th Senior National Aquatic Championships

The 77th Senior National Aquatic Championships are set to commence, featuring top swimmers like Olympian Srihari Nataraj, Aneesh Gowda, and Harshita Jayaram. Over 500 swimmers from 31 states will compete, aiming for the ‘A’ Qualification mark for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Karnataka are the defending champions.

The 77th Senior National Aquatic Championships are set to commence, showcasing elite athletes like Olympian Srihari Nataraj, freestyle specialist Aneesh Gowda, and the promising Harshita Jayaram. The event, crucial for Indian swimmers, serves as a gateway to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics 'A' Qualification marks.

Defending champions Karnataka will join over 500 swimmers hailing from 31 states. Nataraj, a recent Paris Olympian in the 100m backstroke, aims to clinch gold in his events, leveraging the home-ground advantage. "I am looking to be in my best form and make use of the home advantage," the national record holder asserted.

Swimming Federation of India Secretary General Monal Chokshi remains confident that Indian swimmers will excel, using the international-standard facilities to outperform previous records. The opening day features competitions in 400m freestyle, 200m breaststroke, 100m backstroke, 50m butterfly, and the 4x100m medley relay.

(With inputs from agencies.)