Glasgow [Scotland], July 18 (ANI): India’s senior swimmer Sajan Prakash mentioned putting a steadiness between chasing private greatest timings and profitable medals is important, stressing that whereas private milestones mirror an athlete’s progress, medals carry glory to the nation on the world stage.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will get underway with the Opening Ceremony on July 23 in Glasgow. The multi-sport occasion will likely be held over 11 days throughout 4 current venues, earlier than concluding on August 2. The swimming occasions will likely be held from July 24 to July 29.
Ahead of the multi-sport occasion, talking in an interview, felicitated the Sports Authority of India (SAI), saying private greatest performances and medals complement one another.
‘Personal greatest is at all times figuring out that you’ve got progressed. In coaching, a whole lot of occasions, that can replicate within the competitors. And medals are crucial for the nation to glorify its title on the world stage. So goes hand in hand,’ Sajan informed reporters.
The 32-year-old Olympian additionally spoke concerning the duty of representing India as one of many nation’s senior swimmers forward of the Commonwealth Games, saying the duty stays the identical no matter seniority, although expertise brings added accountability.
‘I’ve at all times been accountable once you symbolize the nation, no matter whether or not I’m senior or not. But positively sure, I ought to know what to speak, when to speak and learn how to discuss to the media and to everybody else. That is one. And the efficiency I should be on level on the day of the race as a result of there are various issues which may spoil that, however I should be way more ready months earlier than and days earlier than. So positively sure, I’ve the load on my shoulders to take it ahead,’ he informed reporters.
For these unversed, Prakash scripted historical past for Indian swimming by turning into the nation’s first swimmer to earn a direct qualification for the Olympic Games via the qualifying commonplace, in line with Olympics.com.
Sajan secured his place on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after producing a historic efficiency within the males’s 200m butterfly on the 2021 Sette Colli Trophy in Rome. He clocked 1:56.38, setting a brand new nationwide document and going beneath the Olympic Qualification Time (OQT) of 1:56.48 to seal a direct Olympic berth.
The achievement marked a watershed second for Indian swimming, as no Indian swimmer had beforehand certified for the Olympics by assembly the OQT, in line with Olympics.com.
Tokyo 2020 was Sajan’s second Olympic look after making his debut on the Rio 2016 Games. While his Rio participation got here via the universality quota, his qualification for Tokyo was earned on advantage via the Olympic qualifying commonplace, making him the primary Indian swimmer to realize the feat.
At the Tokyo Olympics, Sajan additionally grew to become the primary Indian swimmer to compete at two editions of the Olympic Games, additional cementing his place in Indian swimming historical past. (ANI)