Srihari Nataraj breaches Olympic 'A' cut, awaits FINA's confirmation
Ace Indian swimmer Srihari Nataraj on Sunday breached the A standard time for the Tokyo Games by clocking 53.77s in the men's 100m backstroke at the Sette Colli Trophy but his participation in the Olympics will be confirmed only if FINA approves the timing. The A mark for the Tokyo Games is set at 53.85 seconds.
Nataraj created a new national record in the time trial
Nataraj had come agonizingly close to breaching the A standard in the same event a couple of days back but missed it by 0.05 seconds after an effort of 53.90 seconds. Nataraj's Sunday's effort, which came in a time trial, created a new national record. In time trials, swimmers do not compete against other rivals but they get a chance to better their timing.
We hope Nataraj will join Sajan Prakash in Tokyo: Official
However, the time needs to be officially approved by Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA). "It will be for FINA to accept the result from the time trial at an approved qualification event. It is done routinely at many accredited meets. We hope Nataraj will join Sajan Prakash for Tokyo Olympics 2021," Swimming Federation of India Secretary General Monal Chokshi said.
Two Indian swimmers might compete at Olympics for first time
If Nataraj's time is confirmed, the Tokyo Olympics will mark the first time two Indian swimmers will participate in the event after achieving a direct qualification. Sajan Prakash, who created history by becoming the first-ever Indian swimmer to breach the Olympic A standard in the men's 200m butterfly on Saturday, continued his purple patch by clocking 1:49.73 seconds in the 200m men's freestyle event.
Tokyo Games will be Nataraj's first participation at the Olympics
Prakash clocked a record-breaking 1:56.38 seconds in the men's 200m butterfly event on Saturday rewriting his own national record of 1:56.96s that he had set last week at the Belgrade Trophy swimming competition. While it will be Nataraj's maiden Olympics, the Tokyo Games will be Prakash's second stint at the quadrennial sporting extravaganza, having represented India in Rio in 2016.
