Tokyo qualification on merit bodes well for next generation of Indian swimmers: Sajan Prakash

The past few weeks have been surreal for India’s Sajan Prakash. 

June will be special for Sajan Prakash. He became the first Indian swimmer to gain direct qualification for the Olympics. 

Competing at the 2021 Sette Colli Trophy in Rome, Sajan Prakash dipped below the Olympic Qualifying Standard (OQT) of 1:56.48 in the 200m butterfly to seal his place at the Summer Games.

While the Indian swimming fraternity celebrated the feat, for Sajan Prakash it was a moment of relief. 

“It felt like I finally offloaded a huge burden that I was carrying for a long time,” Sajan told Olympics.com from Dubai. “Relief! That was my first emotion.

“This is something that we have been working on for five years. It’s not been an easy journey. We have to endure a number of hardships, injuries and setbacks. To finally achieve the goal that we set out for, it’s a mighty relief.”

Though Indian swimmers have not missed out on participating at the Olympics since Atalanta 1996, their entries have always come under the universality quota or by achieving the ‘B’ cut. This policy allows qualification only if all slots are not filled and certain criteria are met.

‘Fresh start’ for Indian swimming

But by gaining a direct entry into the Games, 27-year-old Sajan Prakash believes that Indian swimming has broken new ground. 

“I see this as a fresh start for us,” said Sajan, who will become India’s only swimmer to compete at two Olympics.

“Until now, it was hard for us swimmers growing up in India to even have ‘Olympic Qualification’ as a realistic dream. We never saw anyone who came through the Indian system do it. 

“But now with Srihari (Nataraj) and I breaking that ceiling, I believe that swimmers can have Olympic qualification as a realistic goal.”

At Tokyo 2020, Sajan Prakash will be joined by 20-year-old Srihari Nataraj, who clocked the OQT in 100m backstroke, and 21-year-old Maana Patel -- India’s universality entry in the women’s competition.

For Kerala-born Sajan Prakash, young swimmers give hope.

“I think they embody what young swimmers in India are today. They are very confident in their abilities,” Sajan said. 

“I remember in Rome, Srihari was disappointed that he couldn’t make the OQT in his competition swim. He was like, ‘Only if I was in a faster heat, I could have been the first swimmer to do the OQT.’ But then he got the time trial and he showed his quality. 

“He’s not like those who say things for the sake of it. With Srihari, if he commits to something, he backs himself to achieve it. I am so happy to see that young swimmers in India today have that sort of confidence in their abilities,” the Rio Olympian observed.

Sajan Prakash’s tough road to Tokyo 2020

Sajan Prakash’s road to Tokyo 2020 has had its share of difficulties too. 

A shoulder injury in 2019 kept him away from the pool for about 10 months, which was soon followed by the COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown. The added financial difficulties meant that Sajan had to wade through testing waters.

While the Swimming Federation of India (SFI) helped him resume his preparations with an eight-week national camp in Dubai last August, it was his coach Pradeep Kumar who helped Sajan chase the Olympic dream.

“I think that camp and then Pradeep sir letting me stay back with him in Dubai, taking care of most of my expenses came as a blessing,” Sajan, the 200m butterfly national record holder, recalled.

“I was lost. I didn't know what to do next. But it was Pradeep sir who helped me sort out the issues and ensured that I was back in the pool at the earliest. 

“For me, it’s about being in the right environment. I moved to Dubai and my mindset changed. Everyone around me: my coach, his wife, people at the pool, fellow swimmers, everyone was pushing towards this one goal that we had set five years ago. It’s this positivity that I bank upon.”

Sajan Prakash’s second family

Pradeep Kumar, a Dronacharya Award winner, is a hard taskmaster. And Sajan admitted that staying with Pradeep Kumar, at times, made it difficult for the swimmer to deal with his own emotions.

“It’s ok,” Sajan said before breaking into a laugh. “There are days when you’re annoyed at him and then you get home and you have to see the same face again. It irritates you. 

“But his wife (Gowri) has helped me a lot during this phase. She’s been my mum, taking care of me without a second thought. I don’t think this would have been possible if not for this family of mine.” 

Heading into what will be his second Olympics in Tokyo, Sajan Prakash is keen on improving his performance from Rio 2016, where he finished 28th among 29 swimmers. 

“Realistic target is to make the semi-finals. I really think if I can give my best, I can make the top-16. The coming days will be all about preparing for that. Semis is achievable,” Sajan signed off.