Srihari Nataraj storms into 100m backstroke final in Birmingham. Can he script history?
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Srihari Nataraj
Srihari Nataraj made a big splash in the pool at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham late on Friday night. The 21-year-old from Bengaluru showed he was peaking at the right time. He clocked 54.55 seconds which helped him make it to the 100m backstroke final, much to the delight of the Indian camp.
For someone who has shown immense potential, Srihari showed that he was ready for the challenge at these Games. He had decided to skip the World Championship just before this in Budapest from June 17 to July 3, as peaking at two big events in a short span of time would have been impossible.
The swimmer’s name itself conveys positivity. Sri is well known as a title bestowed on someone who is to be respected. Hari is the name of Lord Mahavishnu. And Nataraja is an avataar of Lord Shiva, better known as Dancing God.
Srihari is blessed with energy and the drive to justify his potential. For someone who made the (A) qualification cut for the Tokyo Olympics at the last minute, he has been working assiduously. The Sports Authority of India has been backing him to the hilt. It was the result of the exposure tours and competitions, four in all, before the Commonwealth Games, which has helped him get stronger and faster.
It is no secret Srihari has been training with well-known coach Nihar Amin. Yet, what is more, important is Srihari Nataraj was sent to Turkey recently for analysis of his swimming technique. Swimming as a sport is highly technical, and his stroke motions were analysed so that corrections could be carried out.
Also Read: Leon Edwards carries the torch for the Commonwealth Games in his hometown of Birmingham
A very tough task ahead for Srihari Nataraj
Srihari came seventh in the semi-finals and will have to show more power when he competes in the final. It will be held early morning Sunday (approx 1.30 am) where the best in the business will showcase their talent. Knowing Srihari’s capability, he will need to shave off at least one second if he is to do well in the final. For a country that has not won a swimming medal till now at the CWG (able-bodied category), Srihari knows there will be pressure on him.
The standard of the swimming competition at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham has been top class. Timings registered till now in three finals show how the swimmers are going full tilt. Srihari, too, needs to produce one magical effort. The young man can draw inspiration from javelin king Neeraj Chopra, who won a historic silver medal at the World Championship in Eugene, Oregon, last week.
To be sure, Srihari has faced anxious moments in his career during the Covid-19 pandemic. While swimmers around the world had access to pools, the Indian swimmers had to face a very long period of absence from even training. Merely practicing dry run training was not the same as getting into the pool.
Add to it Srihari testing positive last year and then getting treated, his journey has been one of toil. What was more difficult to deal with for him was losing his father during the pandemic. Such emotional upheavals are very difficult to deal with. Srihari has shown that he will take what it takes to strive and do his best. After all, he was a super hit at the Khelo India University Games held two months ago in Bengaluru. He won three gold medals there at the Jain University sports complex.
Virdhawal Khade and Sajan Prakash are the only two swimmers before this to make it to the finals at the Commonwealth Games, though a medal eluded them. In the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi, Para swimmer Prashanta Karmakar did win a medal.
Back to Srihari, he has competed in events in Singapore, France, and Monte Carlo. To be competing against the best swimmers has helped him improve his timing. The big test will be early morning, Sunday when Indian sports fans will be glued to their TV sets.
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S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)