In a landmark moment for Indian swimming, J. Abhijit of Karnataka became the first Indian swimmer to breach the two-minute barrier in the 200m freestyle at the 1997 National Games, clocking an impressive 1 minute 58.68 seconds. His performance marked a new era in Indian competitive swimming and inspired a generation to chase faster times.
Years later, India’s swimming elite witnessed another record-breaking moment when Virdhawal Khade, one of the country’s most celebrated swimmers, set the national record in the same event with a blazing time of 1 minute 49.86 seconds. Representing Maharashtra, Khade’s performance stands as the gold standard in Indian swimming, highlighting the evolution of the sport in the country.
Together, these milestones chart India’s growing prowess in aquatic sports, with J. Abhijit opening the lane and Virdhawal Khade accelerating through it.
