The 79th Senior National Aquatic Championships in Ahmedabad saw Karnataka emerging as the dominant force, clinching both the men’s and women’s team titles and securing the overall swimming championship with 334 points. Aryan Nehra from Gujarat stood out as the Best Swimmer in the men’s category, claiming three gold medals and a bronze, setting two National Meet Records and an Indian Best Performance. Meanwhile, Saanvi Deshwal of Maharashtra shone in the women’s category, earning the Best Swimmer award with three gold medals and a silver, along with a National Meet Record and an Indian Best Performance.
Competing against top senior swimmers from India, including those with international experience, Saanvi Deshwal stood out as the standout female athlete of the championship, earning the prestigious title of Best Female Swimmer. She secured gold medals in the 200m Individual Medley, 100m Breaststroke, and 200m Breaststroke, along with a silver in the 400m Individual Medley. The Women’s 200m Individual Medley witnessed a remarkable performance by Saanvi, where she set a new national record with a time of 2:19.15, showcasing exceptional talent and rewriting Indian swimming history at just 14 years old.
The championships witnessed a total of 22 new records being established, with 10 in the men’s events and 12 in the women’s events. Indian swimmers also achieved 17 Indian Best Performances, with seven in the men’s category and 10 in the women’s. This six-day competition highlighted the depth of talent in Indian swimming and provided optimism for future international competitions.
