Akash fights off fatigue to set the pool on fire

Bengaluru: A seemingly tired Akash Mani got ready for the last of his four races over two days with an eye on another gold at the third edition of the Nettakallappa Swimming Competition here on Sunday. 

The 18-year-old Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre swimmer had already captured three first-place finishes (100m freestyle, 100m backstroke and SKINS 50m backstroke) but his gold in the men’s open SKINS 50m freestyle event turned out to be the icing on the cake. 

Though Akash had an able challenger in Lakshyan Academy of Sports’ Chinthan S Shetty, who too collected his share of multiple medals, the former finished with a time of 24.25 seconds to emerge as the fastest swimmer of the event. While Chinthan (24.48s) came in a close second, Jain University’s Xavier D’Souza (24.88s) ended third. 

The spotlight on the day, however, was stolen by India’s youngest Olympian at the Paris Games this year - Dhinidhi Desinghu. The 14-year-old, representing Dolphin Aquatics, found little resistance from her competitors as she topped the podium in the 200m individual medley and 100m freestyle races in the girls’ Group II section. 

“Yes, it is the off-season but I wanted to check the level of swimming I’m at currently to keep the momentum going into next year,” said Dhinidhi.  “Also, it was an opportunity for me to use my learnings. I couldn’t take part in the SKINS event because only swimmers from Group I and above are allowed. But, I can’t wait to come back next year and swim in one of the most fun formats which this competition is most known for.”

The day also saw Akshaj Thakuria dominate the pool in the boys’ Group II section (12-14 years) which had the maximum number of participants in most races. Akshaj clinched three gold - 200m Medley, 100m and 200m freestyle events

Results:

Men:

Open: SKINS 50m Breaststroke: S Vidith Shankar (Dolphin Aquatics) 28.46s, 1; Surya Jhoyappa (BAC) 30.65s, 2; Manikanta L (BAC) 30.82s, 3. 

SKINS 50m Freestyle: Akash Mani (BAC) 24.25s, 1; Chinthan S Shetty (Lakshyan Academy of Sports) 24.48s, 2; Xavier D’Souza (Jain University) 24.88s, 3. 

Seniors: 100m Breaststroke: S Vidith Shankar (Dolphin Aquatics) 1:05.57, 1; Aditya Dubey (GSC) 1:08.30, 2; Manikanta L (BAC) 1:08.82, 3. 

400m Freestyle: Aneesh S Gowda (BAC) 4:14.24, 1; Shivank Vishwanath (BAC) 4:16.11, 2; Nithik Nathella (SRM University) 4:36.34, 3. 

100m Freestyle: Akash Mani (BAC) 53.66s, 1; Xavier D’Souza (Jain University) 54.07s, 2; Kartikeyan Nair (Dolphin Aquatics) 54.66s, 3. 

Boys:

Group I: 

100m Breaststroke: Shivraju Ayush Maganahalli (Dolphin Aquatics) 1:09.01, 1; Surya Jhoyappa (BAC) 1:09.15, 2; Vishagan Saravanan (BAC) 1:11.36, 3.  100m Freestyle: Chinthan S Shetty (Lakshyan Academy of Sports) 53.86s, 1; Dhakshan (BAC) 54.85s, 2; Dharshan S (BAC) 55.17s, 3. 

Group II:

200m Medley: Akshaj Thakuria (Dolphin Aquatics) 2:19.91, 1; Samarth Gowda BS (BAC) 2:21.28, 2; Sharan S (MATSYA Incorporation) 2:23.09, 3. 

100m Breaststroke: Yash H Pal (BAC) 1:11.00, 1; Singh Srijan Deol (MATSYA Incorporation) 1:11.01, 2; Agastya Manjunath (Ekalavya Sports Academy) 1:13.70, 3. 

200m Freestyle: Akshaj Thakuria (Dolphin Aquatics) 2:01.29, 1; Samarth Gowda BS (BAC) 2:02.13, 2; Sharan S (MATSYA Incorporation) 2:02.61s, 3. 

100m Freestyle: Akshaj Thakuria (Dolphin Aquatics) 56.70s, 1; Sharan S (MATSYA Incorporation) 57.85s, 2; Rishith Rangan (BAC) 57.91s, 3. 

Women:

Open: 

SKINS 50m Breaststroke: Harshitha Jayaram (GSC) 34.13s, 1; Lineysha AK (GSC) 35.04s, 2; Lakshya S (Inspire Institute Of Sport) 35.59s, 3. 

SKINS 50m Freestyle: R Shalini Dixit (Dolphin Aquatics) 27.68s, 1; Rishika U Mangle (BAC) 29.27s, 2; Dhruthi K (NAC) 30.42s, 3. 

Seniors: 100m Breaststroke: Harshitha Jayaram (GSC) 1:18.21, 1; Lakshya S (Inspire Institute Of Sport) 1:20.58, 2; Yashvi Pradeep Kharat (GSC) 1:22.57, 3. 

400m Freestyle: Anumati Chougule (BAC) 4:53.37, 1; Thithikshaa Hanumantharaju (GSC) 5:17.10, 2; Dhruthi KR (GSC) 5:28.67, 3. 

100m Freestyle: Shrungi Rajesh Bandekar (Jain University) 1:02.71, 1; Naisha Shetty (NAC) 1:03.25, 2; Dhruthi KR (GSC) 1:05.41, 3. 

Girls:

Group I: 

100m Breaststroke: Lineysha AK (GSC) 1:18.16, 1; ES Samanvi (BAC) 1:21.21, 2; Hiya Manchanda (Dolphin Aquatics) 1:21.31, 3. 

100m Freestyle: Lineysha AK (GSC) 1:01.70, 1; Vihitha Nayana (BAC) 1:01.71, 2; R Shalini Dixit (Dolphin Aquatics) 1:02.48, 3. 

Group II: 

200m Medley: Dhinidhi Desinghu (Dolphin Aquatics) 2:35.06, 1; Tisya Sonar (MATSYA Incorporation) 2:39.92, 2; Trisha Sindhu S (GSC) 2:40.67, 3. 

100m Breaststroke: Tisya Sonar (MATSYA Incorporation) 1:23.19, 1; Manya R Wadhwa (PMSC) 1:24.23, 2; Prathiksha N Gowda (DKV Aquatic Centre) 1:24.87, 3. 

200m Freestyle: Tisya Sonar (MATSYA Incorporation) 2:18.36, 1; Trisha Sindhu S (GSC) 2:18.77, 2; Shamani H Gowda (GSC) 2:21.13, 3. 

100m Freestyle: Dhinidhi Desinghu (Dolphin Aquatics) 59.35s, 1; Tisya Sonar (MATSYA Incorporation) 1:02.23, 1; Charita Phanindranath (Elite Aquatic Centre) 1:03.23, 3.