Paris 2024 Olympics: Swimmers Dhinidhi Desinghu and Srihari Nataraj to represent India
Srihari Nataraj and 14-year-old Dhinidhi Desinghu will represent India in swimming at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Swimming Federation of India (SFI) announced on Wednesday.
While Nataraj will compete in the men’s 100 backstroke event in Paris, Dhinidhi will participate in the women's 200m freestyle competition.
Since no Indian swimmers managed to achieve the Olympic Qualification Time (OQT) or the Olympic Consideration Time (OCT) in any event within the Paris 2024 swimming qualification window between March 1, 2023, and June 23, 2024, the SFI had the option to request for Universality quota places.
Under the Universality Places rule, NOCs without any qualified athlete or relay team may enter a maximum of two athletes - one woman and one man - in one event each.
In addition, NOCs with no athletes who have achieved an OQT nor any athlete invited by World Aquatics through the OCT may enter a maximum of one woman and one man, provided the athletes have competed in one or more of the 2022 and 2024 World Championships.
Srihari Nataraj competed at the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan while Dhinidhi Desinghu swam in the 2024 worlds held in Doha, Qatar.
The SFI exercised its option to claim the Universality Places for both genders. While World Aquatics’ deadline to confirm the Universality Places to NOCs is July 3 and NOCs need to accept these by July 4, Srihari and Desinghu’s names have been sent.
“We sent the names of the two-highest ranked male and female swimmers and have received the confirmation regarding their participation,” SFI secretary general Monal Chokshi told PTI.
This will be Srihari Nataraj’s second Olympic appearance after Tokyo 2020 while teenager Desinghu is set for her debut in Paris.
Srihari Nataraj, along with Sajan Prakash, became the first Indian swimmers in history to achieve the Olympic Qualification Timing (OQT) A times and secure direct quotas to the Olympics at Tokyo 2020.
The then 20-year-old Nataraj finished 27th among 40 swimmers in the men’s 100m backstroke event at Tokyo 2020.
Swimming competitions at Paris 2024 will take place between July 27 and August 4 at the Paris La Défense Arena.
Indian swimming team for Paris 2024 Olympics
- Srihari Nataraj - men’s 100m backstroke
- Dhinidhi Desinghu - women’s 200m freestyle