Tokyo 2020 Olympics: India swimmers keen to make a splash, watch live

Sajan Prakash, Srihari Nataraj and Maana Patel will hope to write a new chapter in Indian swimming history at the Tokyo Olympics.

It’s the first time Indian swimmers managed to directly qualify for the Olympics. Last month, Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj became the first from India to achieve the Olympic Qualification Time (OQT) or the ‘A’ cut. Maana Patel qualified on the basis of the universality quota.

At the Tokyo Olympics, Sajan Prakash will compete in the 200m butterfly and the 100m butterfly. Srihari Nataraj and Maana Patel will swim in the men’s and women’s 100m backstroke events, respectively.

“Yes, getting the ‘A’ cut was a big moment for us. But now we need to make it count,” Srihari Nataraj told Olympics.com.

“I am looking at (making the) semis as a realistic target. If I can come up with my best swim, without any mistakes, then it’s achievable.”

Slotted in heat 3 of the men’s 100m backstroke, Srihari Nataraj is the fourth fastest swimmer in that pack. He will be up against German’s Ole Braunschweig and Marek Ulrich, and Bernhard Reitshammer of Austria for a place in the top 16.

Others to watch out for will be Australia’s Mitch Larkin, Evgeny Rylov of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and the two-time defending world champion Xu Jiayu of China.

Tokyo 2020 will also see Sajan Prakash become India’s only two-time Olympic swimmer. He competed at the 2016 Rio Games under the universality quota.

In Tokyo, Sajan will be competing against London 2012 gold medallist, Chad Le Clos of South Africa, 200m butterfly world record holder Kristof Milak of Hungary and local hope Daiya Seto.

Tokyo 2020 Olympics swimming schedule for Indian swimmers and live India start times

All times are in India Standard Times (IST)

Sunday, July 25

Women's 100m backstroke (Heat 1) - 3:32 PM IST

Men's 100m backstroke (Heat 3) - 4:26 PM IST

Monday, July 26

Men's 100m backstroke semi-finals - 8:01 AM IST onwards

Women's 100m backstroke semi-finals - 8:23 AM IST onwards

Men's 200m butterfly (Heat 2) - 3:50 PM IST

Tuesday, July 27

Women's 100m backstroke final - 7:21 AM IST

Men's 100m backstroke final - 7:29 AM IST

Men's 200m butterfly semi-finals - 8:05 AM IST onwards

Wednesday, July 28

Men's 200m butterfly final - 7:19 AM IST

Thursday, July 29

Men’s 100m butterfly (Heat 2) - 4:15 PM IST

Friday, July 30

Men’s 100m semi-final - 7:00 AM IST onwards

Saturday, July 31

Men’s 100m final - 7:00 AM IST

Where to watch Tokyo Olympics swimming live in India?

Tokyo Olympics swimming will be telecast live on the Sony TEN 2, Sony TEN 2 HD, Sony SIX and Sony SIX HD TV channels in India. Sony TEN 3, Sony TEN 3 HD, Sony TEN 4 and Sony TEN 4 HD will broadcast Tokyo 2020 in regional languages.

Live streaming of the Tokyo Olympics swimming will be available on Sony Liv.

Live broadcast subject to Sony Sports Network.