Indian swimmer Virdhawal Khade secures Gold at the 49th SNAG Championships

Maharashtra-born Virdhawal Khade shot to fame by becoming the first Indian swimmer to win a medal for India after a gap of 24 years on November 16, 2010, when he won the Bronze in the 50m butterfly category at the 2010 Asian games. Since then, Khade has set numerous individual records at the national level as he became India’s undistinguished swimming superstar. 

The lad from Kolhapur continued his winning streak as he managed to win the Gold medal at the ongoing 49th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships in the 50 metres freestyle event. Khade faced a host of international swimmers in the finals but managed to emerge as the victor.

"This was a good place to start. It always feels great winning for the country. Honestly, I expected a faster time, but I'll take this. There was a lot to learn from all the races in Singapore, and I know I can improve so much more in the coming months," Khade said to PTI sources.

Khade, followed up that win, with a Silver medal in the 50 metres freestyle in the same category to end the outing on a positive note. He has now set his sights on the upcoming 2018 CWG in Gold Coast where he will be part of the Indian swimming team.

"I have been training in Bangalore for five months now. Things have been on track and I have been swimming competitions to prepare myself for the Games,"

"My times have been good and improving consistently, and at this point I feel it is all about staying injury-free and doing what I have been doing in the past months, as it seems to be helping me get better," Khade added.