Tokyo Olympics: Who is Sajan Prakash? All You Need to Know
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Sajan Prakash
Swimmer Sajan Prakash created history and became an overnight sensation, as he became the first Indian swimmer to secure an A standard in swimming, and therefore qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. He did so by clocking a time of 1:56.38 min in the 200m butterfly, also creating the national record.
He had already broken the national record at the Belgrade Trophy 2021 but had failed to make the qualification mark by just a whisker. Then a few days later, Sajan Prakash scripted history in Rome, as he beat the Olympic Qualification time by 0.10s.
Sajan Prakash Holds 11 National Titles
Prakash was born in Kerala but was later raised in Tamil Nadu. He did his schooling in St. Paul’s Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Jawahar Higher Secondary School, Neyveli, Tamil Nadu and currently serving in the Kerala Police force.
Sports is in his blood and he was first introduced to swimming at a young age at Neyveli Lignite City Swimming Club. He was excellent at the sport and quickly won many national events. He had a stellar performance in 2015, where he won six golds and 3 silvers at the 35th National Games, held in Kerala India, and won the Best Athlete award. He was the only male swimmer from India to take part in the Rio Olympics.
At the 2017 Asian Indoor Games, he won a silver in the 100m butterfly. He currently holds 3 South Asian and 1 Asian records. He created history in 2018 as well, as he became the first Indian swimmer to qualify for finals at the 2018 Asian Games in 200m butterfly after 32 years.
Now in 2021, Sajan Prakash became the first Indian swimmer to qualify for the Olympics via A standard and hopes to do well at the Tokyo Olympics this year, along with his teammate who also qualified, Srihari Nataraj.
Also read: Countdown to Tokyo Olympics: Know your Olympian- Tajinder Pal Singh Toor
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Saivee Phatak
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