Rujuta Khade shatters a 20-year-old record in the 50-meter women’s freestyle at the swimming nationals

Rujuta Khade of Maharashtra stole the show on Tuesday at the swimming nationals by shattering a record that had stood for 20 years as Aryan Nehra kept on his record-breaking ways. Rujuta beat off fellow statemate Anannya Nayak, who timed 26.64s, to win the gold in the 50m women’s freestyle event. Nina Venkatesh of Karanataka took home the bronze with a time of 26.73s.

Rujuta broke the previous national mark of 26.61s, which had been held by Shikha Tandon since 2003.

The 50m men’s freestyle was the quickest event at the current meet, and it was won by Rujuta’s husband, Virdhawal Khade, a bronze medalist at the 2010 Asian Games. Even though Virdhawal’s timing of 22.82 seconds wasn’t his best, the seasoned swimmer managed to beat off teenage swimmers Mihir Ambre (22.96) and AS Anand (23.30), who won the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

While setting yet another record in the men’s 1500m freestyle, Aryan carried on with his daily tasks.

He finished in a time of 15:29.76, and such was his dominance that Delhi’s Kushagra Rawat, the second-place finisher and holder of the national record, finished nearly 15 seconds later.

Advait Page, who currently holds the title of “Best Indian Time” in the competition with a time of 15:23.66, finished with a time of 16:07.27.

When a time is achieved in the Nationals, also known as the National Aquatic Championships, it is regarded as a national record in swimming. be a result, the times recorded at other meetings are referred to be the “Best Indian time.”

In as many days, Aryan had set three national records. The 19-year-old had already broken the 400-meter and 800-meter freestyle national records.

Sajan Prakash, 29, who competed for the All India Police Sports Control Board, was also back on the podium after winning the men’s 200-meter butterfly gold with a time of 1:59.37.

Suvana C. Bhaskar of Karnataka won the gold medal in the 50-meter women’s backstroke event with a timing of 29.63. Suvana not only defeated Maana Patel, who placed second, but also altered Maana’s previous record.

In the women’s 4x100m medley, the Maharashtra foursome of Rujuta, Palak Joshi, Apeksha Fernandes, and Anannya triumphed against Bengal and Karnataka to take first place.