New Delhi: Ace Indian swimmer Srihari Nataraj has all his eyes on a semi-final spot at the Paris Olympics 2024 later this month despite failing to earn a direct qualification for the 100m backstroke event.
The national record holder for 100m backstroke with a timing of 53.77s, Srihari Nataraj couldn’t meet the Olympic Consideration Time (OCT) of 54.01s. He hasn’t been able to improve his personal best timing of 53.77s, which was achieved at the Sette Colli Trophy 2021 in Rome.
As a result, the 23-year-old Bengaluru-based swimmer had to rely on the Universality Quota. The Universality Quota permits each country to recommend their two top-ranked swimmers for Olympics in case where no one makes the cut through the qualification process. After making a direct entry at Tokyo Olympics 2020, Srihari was left with disappointment of making the trip to Paris through the Universality Quota.
“It was annoying and disappointing that I didn’t get the qualifying time because I had been training really well. But I’m not really bothered about what happened,” Srihari told news agency PTI in an interview.
“I got the quota spot. It might be a step back, but I still got the spot. And now I can spend the coming weeks either thinking ‘oh, this is not the way I wanted it’. Or I can focus on what I want to do in Paris. So, I’m taking it as motivation,” he added.
Srihari Nataraj aims high to qualify for semis at Paris Olympics
Srihari Nataraj won a silver medal in the 50m backstroke event at the 30th Mare Nostrum swimming tour in France with a timing of 25.50s. He believes that his training has shown signs of improvement because of the break taken after the 2023 National Games, where he clinched 10 medals, including eight gold. With the assistance of his coach Nihar Ameen, the Bengaluru swimmer has identified some major areas where he has been lacking. He feels that he’s been the “fastest I’ve ever been” in training with the increase of speed in his first 50m.
“I think it’s just race execution. I am working on having a little more speed — front end speed and a little more natural speed so that I don’t have to put in as much effort on the first 50,” he explained.
“We’re doing a lot more high intensity explosive short sprints. And we’re just hoping that it converts in time and I can open the first 50 a little more effortlessly,” he added.
With his season best of 54.68s, Srihari wants to improve his best performance of the season in a bid to compete in the semi-final stage of the Paris Olympics.
“I’ve always had good capacity in good second 50m. I just have a goal towards trying to get a personal best. And I think if I make a personal best, it puts me in a good spot to be in the semifinals,” he mentioned.
Srihari Nataraj couldn’t meet the Olympic Consideration Time (OCT) of 54.01s and had to rely on the Universality Quota to make the cut for the Paris Olympics 100m backstroke. Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
