Fr. Agnel’s Rishab sets new national swim record

Panaji: Fr Agnel Junior College swimmer Rishabh Das broke the national record in 200m backstroke at the 78th Senior National Aquatic Championships 2025 in Bhubaneshwar, recently.
The Class 12 student from Fr Agnel, Vashi, stopped the clock at 2:00.65s, smashing the national record that was previously owned by Olympian Srihari Nataraj by two seconds. Das went on to win another gold in 100m backstroke, a silver in 50m backstroke and three bronze medals in the 100m freestyle and the freestyle and medley relays for men.
His latest national record means he receives a B grade qualification into the World Aquatic Championships, which is scheduled to be held in Singapore in July.
Other swimmers from Fr Agnel who excelled include Heer Shah, Aditi Hegde and Dakshajaa Dey Upreti.
Fr. Agnel’s, Vashi, is a branch of the Society of Pilar, Goa.
“Our swimmers have performed really well at the Seniors this year and they are awaiting selection for the upcoming Asian Swimming Championships and the Asian Youth Games to be held in Ahmedabad and Bahrain respectively,” said Fr. Saturnino Almeida, a key member of the Agnel Ashram community that set up Fr Agnel School in Vashi in 1982 that later developed into an educational complex. “Our institution has always believed that sports and academics can go together, and this performance is a testament to this belief. Our coaches have worked hard on the swimmers and the result is proof of their effort. I am sure that our swimmers will continue to do well and win laurels not only at the national but at the international level as well."