Despite a stunning haul of nine gold medals at the Khelo India University Games Rajasthan 2025, Indian swimming sensation Srihari Nataraj has candidly admitted that his focus was not on clocking personal best times but on securing victories for his university. The Olympian revealed he is currently in his off-season and did not push himself to the limit in the pool.
A Champion's Perspective on Victory
The 24-year-old, one of India's most decorated swimmers, is fresh from winning seven medals at the Asian Aquatics Championships in Ahmedabad last month. At the university games, his sheer class was enough to dominate the competition, as he finished with an impressive tally of nine gold and two silver medals.
His exceptional performance, combined with strong showings from his teammates, propelled Jain University to a massive total of 45 medals from swimming alone, which included 27 golds. This collective effort underscored the university's dominance in the aquatic events, which concluded on Friday.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Asian and Commonwealth Games
While satisfied with the medal count, Nataraj's gaze is firmly fixed on the future. The multiple national record holder is already looking forward to next year's Asian Games in Japan and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, expressing strong confidence in his ability to win a medal at these prestigious events.
"At the Asian Games I will be 25 and it is the age when swimmers generally peak," Nataraj stated after his campaign. "Now, I know a lot about my swimming, my body and I am confident that I can win a medal there."
The Crucial Role of Government Support
A key part of his preparation hinges on institutional backing. Nataraj is hopeful that his seven-medal performance at the Asian Aquatics Championships will earn him a spot in the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), a program similar to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
He knows the value of such support firsthand. "After the first Khelo India Games in 2018, I was selected for TOPS and the support I received made a major change to my career," said the swimmer, who represented India at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.
However, after he failed to win a medal at the Paris Olympics, bowing out in the heats of the 100m backstroke, the Sports Ministry dropped him from the TOPS Core Group. The TAGG was established last year to provide focused support for Asian Games medal prospects, and Nataraj sees a clear opportunity for inclusion.
"I am hoping that with my Asian Championships haul of 7 medals, I can get support for the Asian Games under TAGG," he added. "I think there is no one apart from me and Sajan (Prakash) who are close to an Asian Games medal in swimming, and this is my best chance to win an Asian Games medal."
Reflecting on the importance of the Khelo India University Games, Nataraj emphasized that it provides senior swimmers with a vital competitive platform. "Swimmers in India at the senior level don't get to compete in many events in India. There are Senior Nationals and one University Nationals. So, this is one more tournament to test themselves," he concluded.
