IN CONVERSATION: 'Want to take Indian swimming to a rightful place,' says Srihari Nataraj ahead of Tokyo Olympics

The last week of June saw him becoming only the second Indian to have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after Sajan Prakash. He achieved the 'A' cut with 53.77s timing in 100-metre backstroke time trial in Italy.

Hyderabad: When he was just two, his mother took him along where his elder brother practiced swimming. She later got him into training so that he will not huddle around, keep quiet, and doze off after tiring himself out. This was Srihari Nataraj's, India's Olympic-bound, first introduction to swimming. Not a serious start, but he loved reaching the finishing line first even as a child.

"My mother used to take me to the pool where my brother practised. And that's how it all started. I wasn't serious in the start but I always enjoyed winning," Nataraj told Etv Bharat.

Shortly before he turned 15, Nataraj, who grew up idolising one of world's greatest athletes Michael Phelps, would start taking the sport seriously. The game was growing in him all along despite coming from a family of cricketers who, except for his mother, wanted him to jump on the bandwagon.

Srihari Nataraj is ecstatic for all the hard work he has put in over the years finally paying off especially in a Covid-affected world where his training was hampered for about six months due to the lockdown.

"I actually come from a family of cricketers. Everyone in my family wanted me to play cricket except my mom. Later, they were fine with it. They didn't really care that I didn't play cricket," he said.

But somewhere in the back of his mind, he always felt the calling and settled on a sport that will one day take him to world's biggest sporting showdown-- the Olympics.

A 16-year-old Nataraj backstroked his way in 2:03.89 to win the race at 71st Senior National Aquatic Championships in 2017. He broke his own national timing of 2:04.11 set at the Junior Nationals early that year.

"In 2017, when I broke the national record -- the fastest time ever recorded by an Indian in backstroke is when I realised I can do something for the country.

"I played cricket well. But I thought maybe this is better, this is what I was meant to do," he said.

The last week of June this year saw him becoming only the second Indian to have qualified for the Games after Sajan Prakash. He achieved the 'A' cut with 53.77s timing in 100-metre backstroke time trial in Italy.

And Nataraj is ecstatic for all the hard work he has put in over the years finally paying off especially in a Covid-affected world where his training was hampered for about six months due to the lockdown. A good seven-month hard grind got him back into the groove.

"It's been a goal that I have worked for a long time," he said.

Just a couple of days earlier before qualification, Nataraj had missed the 'A' mark by a meagre 0.05 seconds before he achieved a 53.77-second finish in a 100m backstroke time trial at the Settecolli Swim Meet in Italy.

After falling short of the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT), Nataraj had to go for the time trials, where one has to swim alone in the pool with the time getting recorded.

"It was disappointing but I didn't think too much of it. It's part of racing," he concurred.

However, qualification did prove a tall order for Nataraj. The 20-year-old wasn't sure about featuring in the Olympics but gave everything to breach the mark during the time trial.

"It was a now or never situation. It was also in a trial. I was not sure if it was going to be taken. I had to swim it alone. I had to just focus and ensure that I handled it properly," he told a media outlet.

Asked what it is was like to race in the time trials, he said, "The real race and time trials were very different as I had to swim completely alone. And there was no pacing, but I didn't think about it and just swam like it's another race."

Having qualified for the Olympics, Nataraj now understands the rising expectations people have from him but isn't bogged down by it as he eyes semi-finals in Tokyo.

"I can't really say what should people expect and what they shouldn't. I can only say about what I am expecting from myself which is to make it at least to the semifinals. I hope to make the semis and the finals. That would be great," he explained.

The story that started with a mother trying to keep his son occupied and quiet has now taken a massive turn as Natrajan braces for the "biggest challenge of his career".

"The Olympics is going to be the biggest challenge of my career so far. Everyone is ready to go, everyone is in the best shape of their lives. And I am going to be there too in the best shape of my life, trying to make a statement and take Indian swimming to a place that it's never been. I hope I will be able to do it and it's going to be fun."

For now, he is happy with his qualification.

"I cannot describe what it means to me," he said basking in joy of representing the country in the Olympics.

But hurriedly added, "The only thing better than this is an Olympic medal. Hopefully, from now on, I will just go higher from here."

He signed off by thanking his family, coaches, and physio along with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Swimming Federation of India (SFI).

-- By Ayushmaan Pandey