India Announce 12-Member Swimming Squad for Asian Games 2026

August 23, 2026

New Delhi: Vedaant Madhavan, along with two-time Olympians Srihari Nataraj and Sajan Prakash, will spearhead India’s 12-member swimming squad at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, according to Olympics.com.

The swimming competition at the continental event will be held from September 20 to 25 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

Vedaant Madhavan to compete in 200m events

Vedaant, the 21-year-old son of actor R Madhavan, will compete in the men’s 200m freestyle and 200m backstroke events. He has also been included in India’s 4x200m freestyle relay team.

At the national championships in June, Vedaant finished fourth in the 200m freestyle final with a personal-best time of 1:53.89.

Experienced swimmers Srihari Nataraj and Sajan Prakash will also be part of India’s campaign. Srihari, who represented India at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, will compete in the men’s 50m backstroke.

Sajan, a Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympian, will participate in the men’s 100m and 200m butterfly events.

Aryan Nehra, Rohit Benedicton add strength

Distance swimmer Aryan Nehra will be another key member of the squad after a record-breaking domestic season.

He became the first Indian swimmer to breach the eight-minute mark in the 800m freestyle, setting a national record of 7:59.36. He also broke the national record in the 1500m freestyle.

Butterfly specialist Rohit Benedicton has also been included after improving his own national record in the 50m butterfly twice on the same day at the national championships, according to Olympics.com.

Several swimmers from the Asian Games squad also competed at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow last month. Sajan reached the 200m butterfly final, Srihari progressed to the 100m backstroke semifinals, while Aryan featured in the 800m and 1500m freestyle finals.

India eye swimming medal after 12-year wait

India will aim to end a 12-year wait for an Asian Games swimming medal in Aichi-Nagoya.

Sandeep Sejwal was the last Indian swimmer to win a medal at the continental event, claiming bronze in the 50m breaststroke at Incheon 2014.

India failed to win a swimming medal at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games, despite recording six national records.

India’s 12-member swimming squad for Asian Games 2026

• Rohit Benedicton: Men’s 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay
• Rishabh Das: Men’s 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 4x100m medley relay
• Vedaant Madhavan: Men’s 200m backstroke, 200m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay
• Akash Mani: Men’s 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x100m medley relay
• Srihari Nataraj: Men’s 50m backstroke
• Aryan Nehra: Men’s 800m freestyle, 1500m freestyle
• Utkarsh Santosh Patil: Men’s 100m backstroke, 200m backstroke
• Sajan Prakash: Men’s 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly
• Heer Gitesh Shah: Men’s 50m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay
• Dhakshan Shashikumar: Men’s 400m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay
• Aneesh Sunil Kumar Gowda: Men’s 200m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 4x100m freestyle relay, 4x200m freestyle relay
• Danush Suresh: Men’s 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 4x100m medley relay