Asian Games 2023, swimming preview: Full squad, schedule, list of competitions

India’s swimmers face a challenging task in Hangzhou, but the emergence of young talent offers hope for a brighter future in Asian swimming.

Veteran: Virdhawal Khade won a bronze medal in the 50m butterfly event at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

India has seen limited success in swimming at the Asian Games, with just nine medals to its name, including one gold, two silver, and six bronze. The most recent medal came in 2014, when Sandeep Sejwal secured bronze in the 50m breaststroke.

Heading to Hangzhou, 32-year-old Virdhawal Khade, a bronze medallist in 50m butterfly at the 2010 Asiad, will lead a 20-member swimming contingent. The men’s team includes experienced swimmers such as Sajan Prakash, Srihari Nataraj, Tanish Mathew, Advait Page, and Aryan Nehra.

On the women’s side, Maana Patel will spearhead the challenge, while young talents Palak Joshi, Dhinidhi Desinghu, Hashika Ramachandra, Vritti Agarwal, Nina Venkatesh, and Lineysha have made their mark at national events.

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Their competition will be fierce, primarily against East Asian giants: Japan, China, and South Korea. Japanese swimmers have historically dominated, with China as their closest competitor. Notable Chinese swimmers to watch are Zhang Yufei, Ye Shiwen, Yang Junxuan, and Li Bingjie. In the men’s events, Qin Haiyang is a strong medal contender after breaking the 200m breaststroke world record at the 2023 World Championship.

In 2018, Japan topped the swimming tally with 52 medals, including 19 golds. Notable performances included those from Yasuhiro Koseki, Daiya Seto, and Rikako Ikee, who won four individual gold medals and earned the first-ever female Most Valuable Player award.

India’s swimmers face a challenging task in Hangzhou, but their determination and the emergence of young talent offer hope for a brighter future in Asian swimming.

India Swimming Squad:

Men: Aneesh Gowda, Advait Page, Aryan Nehra, Anand AS, Kushagra Rawat, Likith SP, Sajan Prakash, Srihari Nataraj, Tanish George Mathew, Utkarsh Patil, Vishal Grewal and Virdhawal Khade.

Women: Anannya Nayak, Dinidhi Desinghu, Hashika Ramchandran, Lineysha AK, Maana Patel, Nina Venkatesh, Palak Joshi, Shivangi Sarma and Vritti Agarwal.

2022 Asian Games Swimming Schedule

24th September 2023, Sunday

7:30 AM to 9:30 AM IST

Women’s 200m butterfly, 50m breaststroke, 4x100m freestyle relay - Heats; 1500m freestyle - slow division

Men’s 200m Individual medley, 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke - Heats

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM IST

Women’s 200m butterfly, 50m breaststroke, 4x100m freestyle relay - Final; 1500m freestyle- fast division

Men’s 200m Individual medley, 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke - Final

25th September 2023, Monday

7:30 AM to 9:30 AM IST

Men’s 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 4x200m freestyle relay - Heats

Women’s 50m backstroke, 200m freestyle, 200m individual medley - Heats

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM IST

Men’s 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 4x200m freestyle relay - Final

Women’s 50m backstroke, 200m freestyle, 200m individual medley - Final

26th September 2023, Tuesday

7:30 AM to 9:30 AM IST

Women’s 100m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 400m freestyle - Heats

Men’s 400m Individual medley, 4x100m freestyle relay - Heats; 1500m freestyle - slow division

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM IST

Women’s 100m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 400m freestyle - Final

Men’s 400m Individual medley, 4x100m freestyle relay - Final; 1500m freestyle - fast division

27th September 2023, Wednesday

7:30 AM to 9:30 AM IST

Women’s 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, 400m Individual Medley - Heats

Men’s 100m butterfly, 200m freestyle - Heats

Mixed 4×100m Medley Relay - Heats

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM IST

Women’s 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, 400m Individual Medley - Final

Men’s 100m butterfly, 200m freestyle - Final

Mixed 4×100m Medley Relay - Final

28th September 2023, Thursday

7:30 AM to 9:30 AM IST

Women’s 50m freestyle, 200m breaststroke, 4x200m freestyle relay - Heats

Men’s 50m butterfly, 200m breaststroke, 4×100m Freestyle Relay - Heats; 800m freestyle - slow division

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM IST

Women’s 50m freestyle, 200m breaststroke, 4x200m freestyle relay - Final

Men’s 50m butterfly, 200m breaststroke, 4×100m Freestyle Relay - Final; 800m freestyle - fast division

29th September 2023, Friday

7:30 AM to 9:30 AM IST

Women’s 50m butterfly, 4×100m Medley Relay - Heats, 800m freestyle - slow division

Men’s 50m breaststroke, 200m backstroke, 400m freestyle, 200m butterfly - Heats

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM IST

Women’s 50m butterfly, 4×100m Medley Relay - Final, 800m freestyle - fast division

Men’s 50m breaststroke, 200m backstroke, 400m freestyle, 200m butterfly - Final