CWG 2022: Srihari Natraj in the final of 100m backstroke, hopes for a medal

Birmingham: Indian swimmer Srihari Nataraj on Friday qualified for the final of the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in the semi-finals of the men’s 100m backstroke event by finishing seventh with a timing of 54.55 seconds. He reached the final by finishing fourth in the second semi-final and seventh overall from this time. Natraj, 21, from Bengaluru, clocked 54.68 seconds in his heat to make it to the semi-finals. He was the third fastest swimmer in his heat and the fifth fastest overall.

Sajan Prakash and Kushagra Rawat, playing for the first time, could not reach the semi-finals in their respective categories. Prakash finished eighth in the heat, clocking 25.01 seconds in the men’s 50m butterfly. The top 16 swimmers have advanced to the semi-finals. Sharp men’s 400m freestyle 3:57. He finished last in his heat with a time of 45 seconds. Kushagra and Prakash will now challenge in the second category. Prakash will compete in the men’s 100m and 200m butterfly while Kushagra will compete in the men’s 1500m freestyle and 200m freestyle.

14 year old Anhat Singh won
14-year-old squash player Anhat Singh, India’s youngest athlete at the Commonwealth Games, made a winning debut in the women’s singles event. Anhat defeated St Vincent and Jada Ross of the Grenadines 11-5, 11-2, 11-0 in the last round of 64 in a one-sided encounter. Anhat was selected in the Indian team after his impressive performance at the under-15 level. She has been the champion of Asian Junior Squash and German Open this year. Apart from him, India’s Abhay Singh defeated Joe Chapman of the British Virgin Islands 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 in the men’s singles round of 64 match.