Kiren Rijiju lauds young swimmer Srihari Nataraj for securing Tokyo Olympics 2020 berth

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has come forward and congratulated swimmer Srihari Nataraj after he qualified for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics 2020. 

Srihari Nataraj officially booked himself a Tokyo Olympics berth on Wednesday after the sport’s world governing body FINA officially approved his ‘A’ standard qualification time in the men’s 100m backstroke time trial at the Sette Colli Trophy in Rome.

Taking to their official micro-blogging site, the Swimming Federation of India wrote:

Tokyo 2020: Kiren Rijiju congratulates Srihari Nataraj

Taking to the micro-blogging site, Kiren Rijiju congratulated Srihari Nataraj for qualifying for Tokyo 2020. He then added that the Bengaluru swimmer first became a Khelo India athlete, who is now in Target Olympic Podium Scheme. Furthermore, Rijiju also added that it is a great example of the grassroots to podium support being extended. Kiren Rijiju signed off by wishing the 20-year-old luck.

Even the netizens came forward with great enthusiasm to congratulate the emerging swimmer:

Srihari Natraj secures Tokyo Olympics 2020 qualification

Indian swimmer Srihari Nataraj officially booked himself a Tokyo Olympics berth on Wednesday after the sport's world governing body FINA approved his ''A'' standard qualification time in the men's 100m backstroke time trial at the Sette Colli Trophy in Rome.

Nataraj's feat came on Sunday and was also a new national record besides being enough to achieve the ''A'' mark for the Tokyo Games set at 53.85 seconds. In time trials, swimmers do not compete against other rivals but they get a chance to better their timing.

The Bengaluru swimmer was allowed a time trial by the organisers on the last day for Olympic qualification. The time needed to be officially approved by FINA. 

The Tokyo Olympics will mark the first time when two Indian swimmers will take part in the Summer Games after achieving a direct qualification. Sajan Prakash had scripted history by becoming the first-ever Indian swimmer to breach the Olympic A standard in the men's 200m butterfly in the same event.

The 27-year-old bettered 2010 Asian Games bronze medallist Virdhawal Khade's previous mark of 1:49.86 seconds. While it will be Nataraj's maiden Olympics, the Tokyo Games will be Prakash''s second appearance at the extravaganza, having represented India in Rio in 2016.

The 20-year-old Nataraj had earlier represented India in the 2018 Commonwealth and Asian Games besides the Youth Olympics the same year. 

(With PTI Inputs)