Dominant Karnataka retain overall title

Bengaluru: Karnataka retained the overall title with a total of 119 medals -- 50 gold, 47 silver and 27 bronze medals -- at the Sub-Junior and Junior National Swimming Championships that concluded in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu finished second and third respectively.
On the final day, debutant Vedanta V Madhir of Karnataka clocked 2:11.74 to erase the previous record of 2:11.97 held by Aaryan Bhosale in the 200m backstroke for Group II boys.
Rivalry between state-mates Tanishi Gupta and Dhinidhi Desinghu of Karnataka continued on the last day too with both swimmers producing a nail-biting finish in the 50m butterfly in Group II girls. Tanishi clinched the gold clocking 28.52 seconds while Dhinidhi clocked 28.71. Both swam under the existing national record time of 28.86 held by Tanishi created earlier in the day. Dhinidhi held the previous mark created last year.
Dhinidhi also created a new national record in 200m freestyle in a time of 2:05.62, smashing the previous record of 2:10.81 created in 2019 by Bavya Sachdeva. Finishing second was her state-mate Sri Charani Tumu (2:12.20). Karnataka lad Ishaan Mehera was adjudged the best swimmer in Group II boys, while Tanishi Gupta bagged the honours in the corresponding category for girls.
Results (Karnataka only): Boys: Group II: 200m freestyle: 1. Akshaj T (2:01.85); 3. Monish PV (2:02.57); 200m backstroke: 1. Vedanta VM (2:11.74 — NMR), 3. Idhant SC (2:15.79); Girls: Group I: 200m freestyle: 1. Hashika Ramchandra (2:08. 35), 3. Shirin (2:12.24); Group II: 200m freestyle: 1. Dhinidhi Desinghu (2:05.62 — NMR); 2. Sri Charani (2:12.20); 200m backstroke: 1. Naisha (2:24.71); 50m butterfly: 1. Tanishi Gupta (28.52 — NMR), 2. Dhinidhi D (28.71 — BMR); Best swimmer: Boys: Group II: Ishaan Mehera (5 gold, 2 NMR). Girls: Group II: Tanishi Gupta (4 gold, 1 silver, 3 NMR).