National Records Tumble at National Aquatics Championships: Aryan Nehra Qualifies for Commonwealth Games, Dhinidhi Desinghu and Saanvi Deshwal Shine

The National Aquatics Championships in Ahmedabad witnessed a remarkable day of Indian swimming as a series of national records were broken across individual and relay events, underlining the growing depth and quality of the country’s talent pool.

Headlining the action was Aryan Nehra, who rewrote his own national record in the men’s 1500m freestyle and, in the process, secured qualification for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Alongside him, Dhinidhi Desinghu, Saanvi Deshwal, and the Karnataka mixed relay team also produced record-breaking performances, making it one of the most memorable sessions in recent national swimming history.

Aryan Nehra continued his steady rise in distance freestyle by clocking 15:14.88 in the men’s 1500m freestyle, eclipsing his previous national record of 15:20.91, which he had set at the 2023 Asian Games. The performance was significant for more than just the record books. Aryan comfortably went under the Commonwealth Games qualification standard of 15:25.48, officially earning his place for the upcoming Games in Glasgow.

The swim demonstrated his consistency and endurance over one of the sport’s toughest events and further established him as India’s leading long-distance swimmer. With the Commonwealth Games approaching, Aryan’s latest timing suggests he is entering the competition in the best form of his career.

Another standout performer was Dhinidhi Desinghu, who once again rewrote the record books in the women’s 100m freestyle. Already the national record holder in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle, Dhinidhi improved her own benchmark in the 100m event by touching the wall in 56.57 seconds, bettering her previous national record of 56.78 seconds.

The improvement may appear marginal on paper, but shaving fractions of a second at the elite level requires exceptional execution and highlights Dhinidhi’s continued progression. Her ability to consistently lower national standards across multiple freestyle distances reflects her versatility and places her among the brightest prospects in Indian swimming.

The women’s 200m individual medley also witnessed history as Saanvi Deshwal clocked 2:19.15 to establish a new national record. She surpassed the previous mark of 2:21.15, set by Hashika Ramachandra in 2023, becoming the fastest Indian ever in the event.

Interestingly, the race also showcased the improving standards of Indian swimming, with Tanishi Gupta finishing in 2:20.61, a time that was also faster than the previous national record. While Saanvi emerged with the official record, Tanishi’s performance reinforced the increasing competitiveness among the country’s top swimmers.

Karnataka Relay Team Sets New Benchmark

The National Aquatics Championships also produced a relay record, with Team Karnataka rewriting the national mark in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.

The quartet of Akash Mani, Aneesh Gowda, Nina Venkatesh and Tanishi Gupta combined to finish in 3:37.68, breaking their own previous national record of 3:38.24, established at the 2023 National Games.

Relay events require precision in takeovers and collective consistency, and Karnataka’s improved timing reflected both individual quality and strong team coordination. The performance further cemented the state’s reputation as one of India’s leading swimming powerhouses.

While several records were broken, Shoan Ganguly came agonisingly close to another. Competing in the men’s 400m individual medley, Shoan clocked 4:24.80, narrowly missing his own national record of 4:24.60 by just two-tenths of a second. Although he fell short of rewriting the record books, the performance underlined his consistency and ability to remain among India’s best in one of swimming’s most demanding disciplines.

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The flurry of record-breaking swims in Ahmedabad reflects the progress Indian swimming has made over recent years. Rather than relying on isolated individual stars, the country is now witnessing multiple athletes pushing each other to higher standards across different events. The emergence of young swimmers such as Dhinidhi Desinghu and Saanvi Deshwal, combined with the continued excellence of Aryan Nehra and strong relay performances from states like Karnataka, indicates that the competitive landscape is becoming increasingly healthy.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the championships is that several national records are no longer standing for years at a time. Instead, they are being challenged and improved within short intervals a hallmark of a sport moving in the right direction.With Aryan Nehra already securing Commonwealth Games qualification and several others producing career-best performances, the National Aquatics Championships have provided a timely reminder that Indian swimming is building momentum ahead of major international competitions.

If the trajectory seen in Ahmedabad continues, the coming years could see Indian swimmers not only rewriting domestic records but also making a greater impact on the continental and global stage.