Srihari Nataraj Eyes Freestyle Glory at Asian Aquatic Championship
Indian Olympian Srihari Nataraj focuses on freestyle events in the Asian Aquatic Championship 2025, held at Ahmedabad's new Veer Savarkar Sports Complex. Transitioning from backstroke, his improved freestyle timing is promising. The Bengaluru swimmer eyes bigger events, keeping an eye on major international competitions post-Asian games.
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Indian double Olympian Srihari Nataraj is poised to shine at the Asian Aquatic Championship 2025, hosted at the newly inaugurated Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad. Set between September 28 and October 11, Nataraj, known for his prowess in backstroke, is now shifting focus to freestyle events.
"Backstroke has always been my main event, but this year I'm emphasizing freestyle, particularly the 100 and 200-meter events," Nataraj explained, citing gradual improvement without targeted training. His intuition was confirmed at the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games, where he broke longstanding national records in both 100m and 200m freestyle events.
Participating in a national training camp in Ahmedabad, Nataraj has been acclimating to the venue. "Training has been excellent, and we're all set for strong performances," he stated, appreciating the event's significance in India. While some anticipate a home advantage, Nataraj downplays it, emphasizing performance over familiarity.
Missing his inaugural Asian Aquatic Championships in 2016, Nataraj expressed enthusiasm for the current opportunity and praised the facilities. Post-Championships, he plans to participate in Jaipur's Khelo India University Games and set his sights on qualifying for the upcoming Commonwealth and Asian Games.
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