CWG: Srihari reaches 50m backstroke semifinals, para-swimmers Budinga, Ali in final
Srihari Nataraj scraped into the men's 50m backstroke semi-finals, while R V V B K Budigina and Imam Ali reached the S13 100m freestyle final. Budigina advanced after finishing third in the heats, and Ali also progressed as all eight swimmers went through.
Indian swimmer Srihari Nataraj scraped into the semi-finals of the men's 50m backstroke at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Friday, while para-swimmers RVVBK. Budigina and Imam Ali safely navigated their morning heats to seal places in tonight's 100m freestyle S13 final.
Nataraj, a two-time Olympian and holder of multiple national records, endured a tense wait after finishing fifth in his eight-man heat. Clocking 25.52 seconds, he tied for joint-14th place overall alongside Bermuda's Jack Harvey. The performance was just enough to secure the Indian a spot on the 16-man semi-final start list, keeping his campaign alive on the opening day of pool action in Scotland.
Having previously competed at Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022-where he became the first Indian swimmer to reach multiple individual finals at a single Games-Nataraj arrived in Glasgow as the anchor of India's swimming squad. Though outside his personal best mark, his progress ensures Indian representation in the evening's backstroke semi-finals.
Meanwhile, India's para-swimming contingent enjoyed a productive session as both R.V.V.B.K. Budigina and Imam Ali booked their berths in the final of the men's 100m freestyle S13, a category designed for athletes with visual impairments.
With eight competitors taking part in the event, the heats served solely to determine lane assignments for the medal race rather than eliminate swimmers. Budigina posted an impressive display, clocking 57.10 seconds to finish third in his heat and third overall, securing a strong middle-lane placement for the final.
His team-mate, Imam Ali, faced a tougher test in the water, finishing at the bottom of the heap with a timing of 1:05.32 seconds. However, with the competition structure permitting all eight heat participants to advance directly to the showpiece, Ali joins Budigina in the medal contention list.
Both Budigina and Ali will return to the pool tonight aiming for the podium, while Nataraj turns his focus toward securing a lane in the 50m backstroke final.