Indian swimming is at an all-time high. For the first time ever, we have breached the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT) or what is popularly known as A-Cut. Two Indian swimmers, Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj (actually three swimmers if you count Suyash Jadhav, representing India at the Paralympics), will represent India. Meanwhile, Maana Patel will be the Indian swimmer in the women category, selected with a universality quota.
The events will be aired live on Sony and DD Channels and here are the dates.
- July 25: Men’s 100m Backstroke Heats — Srihari Nataraj, from 3:30 PM
- July 25: Women’s 100m Backstroke Heats — Maana Patel, from 3:30 PM
- July 25: Men’s 200m Freestyle Heats — Sajan Prakash, from 4:10 PM
- July 26: Men’s 200m Butterfly Heats — Sajan Prakash, from 3:30 PM
- July 29: Men’s 100m Butterfly Heats — Sajan Prakash, from 4:10 PM
While no Indian has so far moved beyond the Olympic heats. What are the prospects? Would our swimmers fare better, especially now they have A-Cut timings. What can be a realistic expectation?
Let’s start with
Men's 100 M Backstroke (Srihari Nataraj)
July 25: Men’s 100m Backstroke Heats from 3:30 PM
Top contenders: Ryan Murphy of the USA is the defending Olympic gold medallist and world record holder (51.85); Xu Jiayu is the two-time world champion (51.86), Kliment Kolesnikov (51.13) and Evgeny Rylov (52.12) are the top two swimmers in the world this year. Hunter Armstrong (52.48) is the second qualifier from the US.
Srihari’s fastest time in 100 Back is 53.77, and he ranks 41 among the 48 swimmers who have secured the A-Cut timing in 100m backstroke. So will he be able to fare better and move into the semi finals? Not much of a chance.
Women's 100 M Backstroke (Maana Patel)
July 25: Women’s 100m Backstroke Heats from 3:30 PM
Top contenders: Kylee Mckeown of Australia (world record holder, 57.45); Regan Smith of USA (57.57), Kylie Masse of Canada (57.70); Kathleen Dawson of Great Britain (58.08)
This race is the easiest to predict from India’s perspective, Maana Patel, with a PB of 1.03.77 is way beyond the contention. Rhyan White, the second qualifier from USA has a time of 58.60. She is unlikely to move beyond the heats.
Men's 200m Freestyle (Sajan Prakash)
July 25: Men’s 200m Freestyle Heats from 4:10 PM
Top contenders: Katsuhiro Matsumoto from Japan is ranked third in the world (1.44.65), Kieran Smith, from USA (1.45.29), Townley Haas from USA (1.45.66)
Sajan with a PB of 1.49.73, is not in contention and is unlikely to move beyond the heats.
Men's 200m Butterfly (Sajan Prakash)
July 26: Men’s 200m Butterfly Heats from 3:30 PM
Top contenders: Kristok Milak of Hungary (world record holder, 1.50.73) Daiya Seto of China (1.52.53) Tamas Kenderesi of Hungary (1.53.42), Luca Urlando of US (1.53.84)
This is the event for which Sajan has made the A-Cut. With a time of 1.56.38, he ranks 42 among the 43 athletes who have earned the A-Cut. He is unlikely to grab a spot in the semis. But miracles can happen.
Men’s 100m Butterfly (Sajan Prakash)
July 29: Men’s 100m Butterfly Heats from 4:10 PM
Top contenders: Caeleb Dressel from the USA (49.87), Kristol Milak of Hungary (50.87), Tom Shields from the USA (51.19)
Sajan has not qualified for this event. And the national record still stands in the name of Virdhawal Khade at 52.77, which he set in 2009 in the Asian Age Group Championships in Tokyo. Hence, there’s not much to expect.
Suyash Jadhav has good medal prospects in 50m Butterfly event that he will be competing for India.
All in all, barring a miracle, Indian swimmers are not going to progress beyond the heats. Yet, we might have a podium finish in Paralympics. So, let’s keep our fingers crossed.