India’s Swimming Schedule at Asian Games 2026: Full Events, Key Races and What to Expect
India’s 12-member swimming contingent will begin its Asian Games 2026 campaign on September 20, with a packed programme featuring individual races and relay events across six days of competition.
The Indian squad includes a mix of experienced international swimmers and younger athletes looking to make an impact at the continental level. Benedicton Rohit Beniston Manickaraj, Rishabh Das, Vedaant Madhavan, Akash Mani, Srihari Nataraj, Aryan Nehra, Utkarsh Santosh Patil, Sajan Prakash, Heer Gitesh Shah, Dhakshan Shashikumar, Aneesh Sunil Kumar Gowda and Danush Suresh will represent India.
The schedule will see India compete in sprint, middle-distance and distance events, along with three relay disciplines. With several swimmers entered in multiple events, the competition will test both individual consistency and squad depth.
India will have a busy opening day on September 20. Benedicton Rohit and Akash Mani are scheduled to compete in the men’s 100m freestyle, while Rishabh Das and Utkarsh Santosh Patil will be in action in the men’s 100m backstroke.
The first day also includes the finals of the men’s 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke, depending on qualification from the preliminary rounds. The following day, September 21, could be one of the busiest days for the Indian contingent. The programme includes the men’s 50m freestyle, 50m breaststroke, 50m backstroke and 4x200m freestyle relay in the preliminary session.
Akash Mani and Heer Gitesh Shah are entered in the 50m freestyle, while Danush Suresh will compete in the 50m breaststroke. Rishabh Das and Srihari Nataraj are expected to feature in the 50m backstroke.
The Indian team will also compete in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay. The finals of the individual sprint events and the relay are scheduled later in the day.
September 22 and 23 feature key freestyle events
Vedaant Madhavan begins his individual campaign in the men’s 200m freestyle on September 22. The young swimmer will also be a major part of India’s relay plans, particularly in the 4x200m freestyle.
The same day also features the men’s 4x100m medley relay, with India set to field a team involving its strongest backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle specialists. Rishabh Das, Benedicton Rohit and Danush Suresh are among the swimmers listed for the relay squad. Aryan Nehra will also compete in the men’s 1500m freestyle, one of the major endurance races on India’s programme.
On September 23, Benedicton Rohit and Sajan Prakash will take to the pool for the men’s 100m butterfly. Vedaant Madhavan and Aneesh Sunil Kumar Gowda will compete in the 200m freestyle, with both also having important roles in the 4x200m freestyle relay squad. The 100m butterfly and 200m freestyle finals are scheduled later on the same day, making it another demanding session for Indian swimmers who advance from the preliminary rounds.
September 24 will feature Benedicton Rohit in the men’s 50m butterfly, while India will also contest the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay. The 4x100m freestyle relay team has several options available, including Benedicton Rohit, Akash Mani, Heer Gitesh Shah and Aneesh Sunil Kumar Gowda. The event will provide India with an opportunity to assess its sprint depth against some of Asia’s strongest swimming nations.
The finals of the 50m butterfly and 4x100m freestyle relay are also scheduled for the same day. On September 25, Danush Suresh returns for the men’s 50m breaststroke, while Vedaant Madhavan and Aneesh Sunil Kumar Gowda will be in action in the 400m freestyle.
Sajan Prakash will compete in the men’s 200m butterfly, one of his most significant events on the programme. His experience could be important as India looks for strong performances in the technical butterfly disciplines.
The day also includes the finals of the 50m breaststroke, 400m freestyle and 200m butterfly.
Aryan Nehra will be one of India’s key swimmers in the longer events, competing in both the 800m and 1500m freestyle. The 800m freestyle is scheduled on September 24, while the 1500m freestyle is part of the programme on September 22. These races will be particularly demanding given the quality of Asian distance swimming, but they provide India with representation across the complete range of freestyle disciplines.
What happened at the 2022 Asian Games?
India’s swimming contingent will be looking to improve on its performances from the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, held in 2023.
At the last edition, Indian swimmers reached several finals but did not win a medal. Srihari Nataraj finished sixth in both the 50m backstroke and 100m backstroke finals. In the 200m backstroke, Advait Page finished seventh.
India also recorded seventh-place finishes in the men’s 800m freestyle and 1500m freestyle through Aryan Nehra, while the 4x200m freestyle relay finished seventh. The men’s 4x100m freestyle relay placed sixth, while the 4x100m medley relay finished fifth with a national record time of 3:40.20.
Several members of the 2022 squad return to the continental stage, while the 2026 team also includes new names. That combination of continuity and emerging talent will be central to India’s campaign.
With multiple events spread across six days and three relay competitions, India’s swimming schedule at the Asian Games 2026 presents an opportunity for the 12-member contingent to build on its previous final appearances and push closer to the medal positions.
Absolutely. The article should include a clear day-wise Indian schedule with preliminary heats, finals and the swimmers entered. Based on the schedule you shared, here is the section to add:
India’s Day-Wise Swimming Schedule at Asian Games 2026
September 20
Men’s 100m Freestyle – Preliminary Heats
Benedicton Rohit Beniston Manickaraj and Akash Mani will be in action.
Men’s 100m Backstroke – Preliminary Heats
Rishabh Das and Utkarsh Santosh Patil will compete.
The finals of both events are scheduled later in the day, subject to qualification.
September 21
Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay – Preliminary Heats
India will field its relay team, with Vedaant Madhavan, Dhakshan Shashikumar and Aneesh Sunil Kumar Gowda among the squad members entered for the event.
Men’s 50m Breaststroke – Preliminary Heats
Danush Suresh will compete.
Men’s 50m Backstroke – Preliminary Heats
Rishabh Das and Srihari Nataraj will be in action.
Men’s 50m Freestyle – Preliminary Heats
Akash Mani and Heer Gitesh Shah will represent India.
The finals of the 50m sprint events and the 4x200m freestyle relay are scheduled later in the day for swimmers and teams that progress.
September 22
Men’s 1500m Freestyle – Timed Final
Aryan Nehra will compete in the endurance event.
Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay – Preliminary Heats
India will field its relay team. Rishabh Das, Benedicton Rohit Beniston Manickaraj and Danush Suresh are among the swimmers selected for the relay squad.
The 4x100m medley relay final is scheduled later in the day.
September 23
Men’s 100m Butterfly – Preliminary Heats
Benedicton Rohit Beniston Manickaraj and Sajan Prakash will compete.
Men’s 200m Freestyle – Preliminary Heats
Vedaant Madhavan and Aneesh Sunil Kumar Gowda will be in action.
The finals of both events will take place later in the day for those who qualify.
September 24
Men’s 50m Butterfly – Preliminary Heats
Benedicton Rohit Beniston Manickaraj will compete.
Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay – Preliminary Heats
India’s squad includes Benedicton Rohit Beniston Manickaraj, Akash Mani, Heer Gitesh Shah and Aneesh Sunil Kumar Gowda for the event.
Men’s 800m Freestyle – Timed Final
Aryan Nehra will represent India.
The finals of the 50m butterfly and 4x100m freestyle relay are also scheduled on the same day.
September 25
Men’s 50m Breaststroke – Preliminary Heats
Danush Suresh will be in action.
Men’s 400m Freestyle – Preliminary Heats
Dhakshan Shashikumar and Aneesh Sunil Kumar Gowda will compete.
Men’s 200m Butterfly – Preliminary Heats
Sajan Prakash will compete.
The finals of all three events are scheduled later in the day for swimmers who progress from the preliminary rounds.
Note: The final-day event schedule and timings should be treated as subject to the official competition schedule and session programme.
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