After setting the ‘India best’ time in 200m freestyle earlier this month, two-time Olympian swimmer Srihari Nataraj is contemplating pursuing the type alongside along with his favorite backstroke in 2026.
Srihari, who competed in 100m backstroke within the Paris Olympics, hopes to make a resolution early subsequent 12 months, in time for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
“I’ve not made plans for the future. Still, 50m backstroke is my main event and it depends on how I feel. I have two chances, at the World University Games (WUG) in Germany (next month) and at the Asian championships in Ahmedabad (in October), to check myself in the 200m freestyle. I will decide in January or February whether I am going to stick to backstroke or do both,” Srihari instructed The Hindu through the National aquatics championships on the Kalinga Stadium on Tuesday.
On his freestyle mark within the Singapore National swimming championships, the place he clocked 1:48.66 to interrupt Sajan Prakash’s four-year-old document of 1:49.73, Srihari mentioned: “Singapore was a good outing for me. I took it as a preparatory event, not where I tried to peak. I did freestyle because I wanted a change without much focus. Freestyle is always a second event for me, and I love competing in Singapore.”
Srihari is making ready properly for the WUG. “My performances are getting analysed, I’m working on my strength and fine-tuning my game.”
Having spent 20 years within the pool, 24-year-old Srihari feels he’s in higher form.
“It has been very long – it’s my 10th year in the Indian team. I’ve grown as a swimmer in the last two years to know myself and my sport better. Now my mind and body are in sync. I’ve developed as an athlete, and my knowledge is better,” mentioned Srihari.
