Srihari Nataraj betters ‘Best Indian Performance’ in 100m freestyle swimming at World University Games

Swimmer Srihari Nataraj continued his record-breaking spree on Sunday as he bettered the ‘Best Indian Performance’ in men’s 100m freestyle, clocking 49.46 seconds to qualify for the semifinals at the World University Games in Berlin.

Nataraj erased Guangzhou Asian Games bronze medallist Virdhawal Khade’s long-standing mark of 49.47 seconds set way back in 2008 set at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune.

He won heat number 6 race and made it to the semifinals at 12th position overall.

The 24-year-old also made it to the 50m backstroke semifinals with a time of 25.59s in the heats. The ‘Best Indian Performance’ (25.11s) in this event also belongs to Srihari, who achieved it at the Uzbekistan Open championships in 2021.

On Friday, Nataraj had twice bettered his own ‘Best Indian Performance’ in the 200m freestyle event.

In swimming, national record timings are those achieved only at the National Aquatics Championships. Timings clocked in other meets are considered “Best Indian Time” or “Best Indian Performance”.