Asian Group Aquatics Championships 2024: Dhinidhi Desinghu Records 'Best Indian Time' In 100m Girl's Freestyle Swimming

All of 14, Dhinidhi Desinghu on Wednesday produced a record-breaking swim to clock the 'Best Indian Time' in the girl's 100m freestyle event on the way to a fourth-place finish at the 11th Asian Group Aquatics Championships in the Philippines. (More Sports News)

Dhinidhi broke the previous record of 57.35s set by Kenisha Gupta, clocking a new Indian best time of 57.33s competing in the 'C' category at New Clark City in Capas, Philippines.

The teenager's performance was better than what senior Olympian Maana Patel (58.42s) and 21-year-old Shivangi Sarma (59.05s) could manage in the women's 100m freestyle event.

Japan's Minami Yu won the gold with a timing of 56.45, while Sum Yiu Li (56.57) and Vietnam's Hien Nguyen (56.69) claimed the silver and bronze medals, respectively.

Ace Indian swimmer Srihari Nataraj won the the gold in men's 100m backstroke with a 55.52s effort while Maana fetched the silver in the women's event with a time of 1:04.14s.

Nataraj joined Likith SP, Rohit B and Anand Anil Kumar Shylaja to pick up his second gold of the day in the men's 4x100m medley relay. The Indian quartet clocked 3:43.13s to finish ahead of Vietnam (3:44.40s) and Iran (3:45.40s).

Seasoned swimmer Sajan Prakash and Aneesh Gowda also stood on the podium, bagging the silver and bronze medals respectively.

While Prakash clocked 2:00.66s, Aneesh touched the pad at 2:03.85s in the men's 200m butterfly event.

Long distance swimmer Aryan Nehra fetched the silver in the men's 400m freestyle with a time of 3:54.38s.

In swimming, national record timings are those achieved at the National Aquatic Championships. The times recorded in other meets are called the 'best Indian time'.

In age group swimming meets, swimmers over the age of 18 compete in the senior or 'A' events.

Junior swimmers who are 16 to 17-years-old compete in the 'B' events while 14 to 15-year-olds participate in the 'C' category.

Dhinidhi, from Bengaluru, had become the youngest female swimmer to win seven gold medals in the National Games last year. She had also competed at the Asian Games.