Overview

• Nataraj took silver in the men’s 200m freestyle in 1:48.47, finishing behind China’s 17-year-old Xu Haibo, who won gold in 1:46.83.
• He added a second silver in the 50m backstroke with a 25.46 finish, trailing China’s Gukailai Wang, who clocked 25.11.
• The medals mark India’s first podiums at the Asian Aquatics Championships in 16 years and opened the host nation’s tally on day one.
• Fifteen-year-old Dhinidhi Desinghu set an Indian best of 2:02.84 in the women’s 200m freestyle and placed fifth in the final.
• The 11th edition is underway at Ahmedabad’s new Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, with India’s 40-swimmer squad arriving off a month-long camp in Naranpura.