Khelo India Games: Olympian Srihari Nataraj bags freestyle gold

Bengaluru, April 25: Tokyo Olympian swimmer Srihari Nataraj on Monday clinched a gold medal in the 50m freestyle, clocking 23.23 seconds, on Day 2 of Khelo India University Games. Natarajan produced his fastest time in an individual race in the event by breaking Mihir Ambre’s meet record with a timing of 23.78 seconds at the first edition. The win placed host Jain University on top of the medals chart with four golds in swimming. As many as five new records were registered in the swimming competition today. At the end of Day 2, as many as 17 universities won gold and 41 others bagged other medals. The first medal, out of 10 in swimming, was won by Savitribai Phule Pune University’s Shubham Dhaygude in the men’s 400m freestyle. Soon, host Jain University’s Siva Sridhar won two golds in 200m Individual Medley and 100m backstroke. In the process, he created a new KIUG record time of 2:05.43 in the 200m Individual Medley. Yet another record was created in the women’s 50m freestyle by Shivaji University’s Rujuta Khade. She clocked 27.38 seconds to break Sadhvi Dhuri’s record from Bhubaneswar, making her university sit sat in second place on the medal table. The university has won three gold, a silver and a bronze. Ishneet Aulakh opened the gold account for Punjabi University, who were 2020 edition’s overall winners in women’s 25m individual pistol event. In the team event, however, the Punjabi University had to remain satisfied with silver in the face-off with their rivals Punjab University. Maharshi Dayanand University bagged their second gold in women’s weightlifting after Komal Kohar’s win on Sunday. On Monday, Sneha Soren made the university proud in the 59 kg category. Juturi Koteswara Rao, who had won silver in women’s 67kg in the previous edition, gave Krishna University their maiden gold medal in the women’s 73 kg category. Juturi Koteswara Rao registered Krishna University’s first ever gold at the Games in the women’s 73 kg class. Rao had won silver in the women’s 67 kg at the last edition. In a massive upset earlier today, Bharathiar University defeated SRM University 3-0 in the women’s volleyball semifinals. On Day 3, as many as 22 medals will be up for grabs in swimming, weightlifting and volleyball events. (UNI)