India has created a group of extraordinary talent in the field of aquatic sports, elevating the country’s reputation on the international scene.
These top 11 Best Indian swimmers are a monument to perseverance, devotion, and dedication to their trade, churning through the water at incredible speeds and shattering long-standing records.
In this investigation, we dig into the lives of these aquatic masters, showcasing their triumphs, setbacks, and the influence they have had on the national sports scene.
Come explore the exciting world of the best Indian swimmers as they continue to garner attention both at home and abroad.
So, let’s take a look at the top 11 Best Indian Swimmers
| S.No | Player Name | Event | Time | Competition |
| 1 | Virdhawal Khade | 50m freestyle | 22.43 | 2018 Asian Games |
| 2 | Sajan Prakash | 200m freestyle | 1:49.73 | 2021 Sette Colli Trophy |
| 3 | Sandeep Sejwal | 50m breaststroke | 27.59 | 2018 Singapore Championships |
| 4 | Rehan Jehangir Poncha | 200m butterfly | 2:01.40 | 2008 Summer Olympics |
| 5 | Shikha Tandon | 50m freestyle | 26.37 | 2008 Malaysia Open |
| 6 | Anshul Kothari | 400m freestyle | 47.98 | 2010 Commonwealth Games |
| 7 | Bhakti Sharma | swam 1.4 miles | 41.14 | 2015, Antarctic waters |
| 8 | Nisha Millet | 50m Freestyle | 28.72 | World Swimming Championships 2004 |
| 9 | Aryan Nehra | 400m individual medley | 4:25.62 | 2023 Senior National Aquatic Championships |
| 10 | Srihari Nataraj | 4x100m freestyle relay | 3:23.72 | 2019 Asian Age Group Championships |
| 11 | Richa Mishra | 200m butterfly | 2:18.66 | 2007 Asian Age Group Championships |
1. Virdhawal Khade:
Virdhawal Khade is one of the best Indian swimmers when compared to other swimmers right now. This young swimmer, who was born on August 29, 1991, in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, has competed for India at Olympic, Commonwealth, and Asian competitions.
He excels at freestyle swimming and has competed in the 50, 100, and 200-meter freestyle events at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he placed last but broke the 100-meter freestyle national record for India.
One of his career highlights was taking home a bronze medal in the 50-meter butterfly event at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, which marked India’s first swimming medal in 24 years.
2. Sajan Prakash:
Sajan Prakash, a gifted swimmer from Kerala, burst onto the national swimming scene with a bang, winning 6 gold medals and 3 silver, setting a new national record for most medals won. He takes part in Freestyle and Butterfly competitions.
In the Asian age group and indoor swimming, he also won gold and silver medals. One of his significant accomplishments is holding the 50-meter freestyle Asian Games record.
3. Sandeep Sejwal:
Sandeep Sejwal was born in Devnagari, Karnataka, and is a swimmer who holds the 50-meter national record for India. He is coached by Nihar Amin in Bangalore, and in 2007 he won silver medals in the 50- and 100-meter breaststroke events at the Asian Indoor Games.
As a result of his time of 1:02.92s in the 100-meter breaststroke event at the 14th FINA World Championships held in Shanghai, he also qualified for the swimming competitions at the 2012 London Olympics.
4. Rehan Jehangir Poncha:
One of the best Indian swimmers, Rehan Jahangir Poncha specializes in the backstroke, butterfly, and individual medley events. He holds six national records and has won five national championships.
For his contributions to coaching, he also got the Dronacharya Award and the Arjuna Award. Along with Virdhawal Khade, Aaron D’Souza, and Sandeep Sejwal, he was a member of the relay team that set a national record in the medley and freestyle events at the 2009 Foshan Asian Games.
5. Shikha Tandon:
Shikha Tandon has an impressive resume that includes 146 National medals and 36 medals from international competitions.
At the young age of 13, Tandon participated in the Asian Games, and at the age of 16, she won her first World Championship.
At the Junior National Aquatic Championship in 2001, she broke her own record in the 200-meter individual medley.
She was the first female among the best Indian swimmers to qualify for the 50- and 100-meter freestyle events at the Athens Olympics. She received seven national honours in 2005, and in 2006, she received the renowned Arjuna Award.
6. Anshul Kothari:
Anshul Kothari was born with a persistent flat foot issue, and his parents decided to take a risk by forcing him to engage in physical activity instead of having surgery.
He quickly discovered a love for swimming and was successful in competing at the highest levels of competition.
At the Asian age group championships and the South Asian Games, he took home gold and silver, respectively. He received the prestigious Sardar Patel Award in 2006 and the Junior Eklavya Award in 2014.
7. Bhakti Sharma:
One of the daring best Indian swimmers who has traversed all five great oceans is Bhakti Sharma. By surpassing the previous record set by Lynne Cox and Lewis Pugh, she became the first Asian woman to set an open swimming record in the Antarctic waters.
She was honoured with the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award in 2010.
8. Nisha Millet:
A swimmer from Bangalore named Nisha Millet. At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, she was the only female among the best Indian swimmers in the competition.
She achieved a high point in her career in 1994 when she won her first international medal at the Asian Age Group Championship in Hong Kong. Numerous honours, including the Arjuna Award, the Rajyotsava Award, the Karnataka State Eklavya Award, etc., have been bestowed upon her.
9. Aryan Nehra:
The young swimmer tied the 400m freestyle record for India but came in 27th place in the heats on Tuesday at the swimming world championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
The 19-year-old matched Advait Page’s “best Indian time” by finishing the heats in a personal best time of 4:25:62. But he was disqualified from the competition. He would have needed to place in the top eight to qualify for that.
Then a swimming performance is recorded in the National Aquatic Championships, it is regarded as a national record. ‘Best Indian time’ refers to the timings recorded at other meets.
10. Srihari Nataraj:
Among the best Indian swimmers, Srihari Nataraj is well-known for his accomplishments in the sport. Srihari Nataraj had distinguished himself as one of India’s brightest young swimmers by the time of my most recent knowledge update in September 2021.
He is an Indian native who is skilled in many swimming disciplines, particularly the backstroke. In many international swimming contests, such as the Asian Games and FINA World Championships, Nataraj has represented India.
He has many records at the national level and has steadily gotten better over time. The Indian sports community has taken notice of his commitment and potential.
11. Richa Mishra:
The national swimming record in India that has stood the longest is Richa Mishra’s time in the 200m butterfly.
The seasoned swimmer finished 2:18.66 at the Asian Age Group Championships in 2007. Mishra has represented India in numerous swimming competitions at the national and international levels.
She is renowned for her skill in a variety of swimming disciplines and has established numerous national records in various competitions.
Mishra is regarded as a leading figure in the Indian swimming community as a result of her commitment and accomplishments.
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