Mumbai: The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games (CWG) showcased the largest swimming program in the history of the event, despite the constraints of limited funding. Whether featuring a scaled-back layout or a full-scale setup, the swimming competitions continue to be a significant source of medals at the CWG. Notably, Australia’s impressive tally included 171 medals overall, 70 of which were gold, with swimmers alone contributing 76 medals and 37 golds.
Event Context
During the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG), Indian athletes advanced to the finals in four events, with Srihari Nataraj not only qualifying for two finals but also setting a national record. In contrast, the performance in Glasgow lacked standout achievements, with only Sajan Prakash reaching the finals in the 200m butterfly event, alongside the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team. Aryan Nehra’s 800m and 1500m freestyle races did not feature heats. In terms of timing, many swimmers recorded slower times compared to their previous performances. Sajan, 32, placed last in the 200m butterfly final with a time of 1:58.05, while he had previously posted a time of 1:57.09 in March in Singapore. Srihari, aged 25, achieved a semi-final time of 25.29 in the 50m backstroke, close to his personal best of 25.18. Nehra, 22, having recently completed the 800m freestyle in under 8 minutes in June, recorded a time of 8:07.26 in this competition.
Player Focus
Swimmers like Nehra and Rishabh Das are currently training overseas, while Srihari has switched to a high-intensity, low-volume training program, according to Ameen. A 45-day training camp is underway in Ahmedabad, featuring Sean Kelly, who has extensive experience in high-performance roles with teams from Spain and Great Britain.
Chokshi commented, “A 45-day period is somewhat limited, but we are striving to do our best following the Commonwealth Games.”
Looking ahead to the next Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, where India aims for enhanced performance in the pool, a comprehensive update of training strategies and increased collaboration with foreign experts may be on the horizon. Presently, many Indian swimmers are training independently, following their own regimens.
“We need to reassess our current training approaches. Our top-level performances have not met expectations. To improve, we require more frequent expertise and camps led by foreign coaches. It’s essential that we train all potential candidates as part of a unified Indian squad, rather than in isolated training environments, where individual practices have been ineffective, resulting in our current performance issues.”
Match Outlook
India’s swimming performance at multi-sport events, particularly the Commonwealth Games (CWG), highlights a critical area for enhancement. Expectations for the able-bodied swimmers at the Glasgow CWG were modest, and their less-than-satisfactory results prompted the national federation to consider overhauling the training framework. The goal is to prepare Indian swimmers for increased competitiveness ahead of the CWG scheduled to be held in four years.
Monal Chokshi, general secretary of the Swimming Federation of India (SFI), remarked, “The outcome at the CWG was disappointing. We could have achieved more.”
The timing of competitions has posed challenges. The senior nationals were held in June, serving as qualifiers for both the CWG in July-August and the Asian Games in September-October. This overlap prevented swimmers from strategically tapering for the CWG, as many opted to prioritize the Asian Games.
Dronacharya awardee Nihar Ameen, who coached the Glasgow contingent, commented, “Some swimmers placed more emphasis on the Asian Games, which was a personal choice. We are optimistic for the Asian Games, where athletes will be better prepared and rested, enabling them to break national records and exceed their CWG performances.”
According to Chokshi, substantial improvements are necessary. “Our current approach is inadequate. We need to rethink and possibly restructure our training systems.”
The SFI is engaging in serious discussions with the sports ministry and the Sports Authority of India about establishing a dedicated training center in the country. With the Ahmedabad CWG marked as a top priority, Chokshi emphasized the need to focus on nurturing the next generation of swimmers aged 17 to 21, along with promising female athletes.
Ameen noted, “If we manage the up-and-coming junior swimmers effectively, they could be well-prepared in four years.”
Chokshi concluded, “This is the only viable path moving forward. We must set clearer standards for our training expectations. Otherwise, while four years may seem short, aiming towards 2032 and 2036 without a change in strategy will not yield success.”
