Aichi-Nagoya: India’s swimming campaign at the Asian Games 2026 received a boost on Friday as experienced swimmer Sajan Prakash, along with Rishabh Das and Utkarsh Patil, qualified for the finals of their respective events. Prakash advanced to the men’s 200m butterfly final, while Das and Patil secured places in the men’s 200m backstroke final.

The qualification came on Day 6 of the Asian Games, which is being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Prakash, who is competing in what is expected to be his final Asian Games appearance, produced a solid performance in the 200m butterfly heats to finish sixth overall.

Sajan Prakash qualifies sixth in 200m butterfly

Sajan Prakash clocked 2:00.94 in the men’s 200m butterfly heats to secure sixth place among the qualifiers for the final.

The seasoned Indian swimmer has been one of the country’s most experienced competitors in the pool and is part of India’s 12-member swimming squad at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. He has represented India at major international events, including the Olympics and previous Asian Games.

Prakash’s qualification is significant as he looks to make the most of his final Asian Games appearance. He had also reached the 200m butterfly final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before arriving in Japan for the continental event.

The top 10 swimmers from the heats progressed to the final, giving Prakash an opportunity to compete for a podium finish in the event.

Rishabh Das impresses in 200m backstroke

Rishabh Das produced one of India’s better swimming performances of the morning, finishing fourth overall in the men’s 200m backstroke heats.

Das stopped the clock at 2:00.53, placing him comfortably among the 10 swimmers who advanced to the final. His performance also put him ahead of teammate Utkarsh Patil, who secured the ninth and final qualifying position.

The 200m backstroke is one of the events in which India has fielded younger swimmers alongside more experienced competitors. Das is also part of India’s backstroke and relay plans at the Games.

With a fourth-place finish in the heats, Das will enter the final with a strong qualifying position and an opportunity to challenge for a medal.

Utkarsh Patil also makes the final

Utkarsh Patil completed a successful morning for India in the 200m backstroke by finishing ninth overall.

Patil recorded a time of 2:02.13, which was enough to secure the final qualifying spot. The top 10 swimmers across the heats progressed to the medal race, allowing both Indian swimmers to compete in the final.

Patil is competing in both the 100m and 200m backstroke events at the Asian Games. His qualification in the longer backstroke event gives India two representatives in the final.

The presence of both Das and Patil in the final also provides India with two opportunities to challenge the leading swimmers in the event.

Three Indian swimmers reach finals

The qualification of Prakash, Das and Patil provided a positive result for the Indian swimming contingent, although three other Indian swimmers missed out on finals in their respective events.

In the men’s 400m freestyle, Aneesh Gowda finished 17th with a time of 3:58.08, while Dhakshan Shashikumar finished 18th in 3:58.73. Neither swimmer advanced to the final.

Dhanush Suresh also missed out on qualification in the men’s 50m breaststroke. He finished 21st in the heats with a time of 28.40 seconds.

Despite those results, the three final berths secured by Prakash, Das and Patil ensured that India remained represented in the medal races in swimming on Day 6.

India’s swimming medal wait

India entered the Asian Games 2026 hoping to end a long wait for a swimming medal at the continental event. The country’s last Asian Games swimming medal came at the 2014 Games in Incheon, where Sandeep Sejwal won bronze in the men’s 50m breaststroke. India did not win a swimming medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, despite setting six national records during the competition.

The current Indian squad includes experienced swimmers such as Prakash and Srihari Nataraj, as well as emerging competitors including Rishabh Das, Utkarsh Patil and Vedaant Madhavan.

With three Indian swimmers now through to finals on Day 6, attention will turn to the medal races and whether the athletes can convert their qualifying performances into podium finishes.

For Prakash, the 200m butterfly final carries additional significance as he competes in his final Asian Games. Das and Patil, meanwhile, will look to make the most of their opportunity in the 200m backstroke final.

The final results will determine whether India can add a swimming medal to its Asian Games 2026 tally.