Dhinidhi Desinghu Shines with Triple Gold at National Games

Dhinidhi Desinghu Shines with Triple Gold at National Games

The National Games witnessed a breathtaking performance from 14-year-old swimming prodigy Dhinidhi Desinghu, who clinched three gold medals, reinforcing Karnataka’s dominance in the pool. Competing at the Manaskhand Tarantal in Golapar, Desinghu showcased her immense talent, setting a new National Games record in the women's 200m freestyle event with an impressive time of 2 minutes and 3.24 seconds.

Record-Breaking Triumph

Desinghu’s victory in the 200m freestyle not only secured her the top podium spot but also shattered the previous National Games record of 2:07.08, set by Karnataka’s Hashika Ramachandra at the 2022 National Games in Gujarat. Delhi’s Bhavya Sachdeva (2:08.68) and Maharashtra’s Aditi Satish Hegde (2:09.74) settled for silver and bronze, respectively.

Unstoppable in the Butterfly Event

Continuing her winning streak, Desinghu grabbed her second gold in the women's 100m butterfly, clocking 1:03.62. Karnataka’s dominance was further highlighted as Naisha Shetty (1:04.81) secured the silver, while Odisha’s Shristi Upadhaya (1:05.20) took home the bronze.

Relay Glory Completes a Golden Hat-Trick

The young Olympian wasn’t done yet. Anchoring the Karnataka women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, Desinghu, along with teammates Nina Venkatesh, Shalini R Dixit, and Latiesha Mandana, secured another gold with a time of 4:01.58. Maharashtra (4:02.17) and Tamil Nadu (4:08.81) claimed silver and bronze, respectively.

Srihari Nataraj Adds to Karnataka’s Medal Tally

Another Paris Olympian, Srihari Nataraj, contributed significantly to Karnataka’s medal haul, winning two gold medals – first in the men’s 200m freestyle (1:50.57) and then leading the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team to a record-breaking victory with a time of 3:26.26. Tamil Nadu (3:29.92) and Gujarat (3:32.23) secured the remaining podium spots.

Karnataka’s Dominance in Swimming

With Karnataka emerging as the powerhouse of Indian swimming, their athletes secured five gold and two silver medals on the opening day of competition. The only event where Karnataka missed gold was the men’s 100m butterfly, won by Tamil Nadu’s Benediction Rohit (53.89 seconds), with Maharashtra’s Mihir Ambre (54.24) and Kerala’s Sajan Prakash (54.52) finishing second and third, respectively.

A Star in the Making

Dhinidhi Desinghu’s outstanding performance at just 14 years old marks her as one of the most promising young swimmers in India. Having already competed in the Paris Olympics, her achievements at the National Games further cement her status as a future star in Indian swimming.

Stay tuned for more updates on the National Games as India’s top athletes continue to shine on the grand stage!