Rishabh Das Finishes Sixth in Men's 100m Backstroke at Asian Games 2026

At the Asian Games 2026, Indian swimmer Rishabh Das finished sixth in the men's 100m backstroke final with a time of 54.77 seconds. Despite improving his performance from the heats, he could not secure a medal. China's Xu Jiayu set a new Games record, winning gold. This event marks a historic moment for Indian swimming, as it is the first final for the country in this discipline at the Asian Games. India has won two medals so far, including silver in the women's 10m air rifle event. Read on for more details about the competition and India's achievements.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 20, 2026, 16:21 IST

Rishabh Das's Performance in the 100m Backstroke Final

Indian swimmer Rishabh Das secured sixth place in the men's 100m backstroke final during the Asian Games 2026, clocking a time of 54.77 seconds. He improved his performance from the heats, where he finished fifth to qualify for the final. Despite his efforts, he was unable to catch up with the leading competitors in the race for medals.

China's Xu Jiayu Sets New Games Record

Xu Jiayu from China, the current world champion and Olympic silver medalist, showcased an outstanding performance, winning gold with a new Games record of 51.98 seconds. Japan's Takehara Hidekazu took the silver medal with a time of 53.93 seconds, while South Korea's Lee Juho claimed bronze, finishing just 0.01 seconds behind Takehara.

Significance of Rishabh's Achievement

Rishabh Das entered the final after clocking 54.85 seconds in the heats, finishing fifth. Although he qualified for the medal round, he faced tough competition, with only six-tenths of a second separating him from the second-place swimmer in his heat. In the final, he improved his time to 54.77 seconds, but it was insufficient for a podium finish. Nonetheless, this sixth-place result marks a significant milestone for Indian swimming, as it is the country's first final in this event at the Asian Games, providing Rishabh with invaluable experience.

India's Overall Medal Count at the Asian Games

India has achieved a total of two medals at the Asian Games 2026 so far. Elavenil Valarivan won a silver medal in the women's 10m air rifle individual event, while she, along with Sonam Maskar and Vidarsa Vinod, secured another silver in the team event. Additionally, Suchika Tariyal earned a medal after defeating Mongolia's Altanchimeg Baigalmaa in the women's Traditional 60kg quarterfinal.