Karnataka Swimmer Manikanta Shines at Khelo India Tribal Games
A Star Performer in Raipur
Over the past few days, Karnataka's swimmer Manikanta has experienced a whirlwind of activity, akin to a model swiftly changing outfits during a fashion show. According to a statement from the KITG, the 21-year-old emerged as a standout competitor at the inaugural Khelo India Tribal Games taking place in Raipur, with aspirations of securing nine gold medals over four days. Ultimately, he achieved an impressive tally of eight golds and one silver, but the real test lay in his ability to transition between the swimming pool and the podium, necessitating quick changes of attire while mentally gearing up for each subsequent race.
Navigating a Grueling Schedule
Specializing in breaststroke, Manikanta took on the challenge of competing in all four swimming styles: breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, and freestyle, aiming to earn as many gold medals as possible for his state. "Switching between different strokes is never straightforward, as each requires a unique strategy. Additionally, the brief intervals between races added to the difficulty," he shared with SAI Media after securing six individual golds and two relay golds.
With six races scheduled daily, Manikanta participated in nearly every alternate event during the first three days of the Khelo India Tribal Games, while also attending medal ceremonies at the international pool in Raipur. This demanding schedule took its toll, as he narrowly missed out on the 50m freestyle gold in the final race of Day 3, finishing second to fellow state swimmer Dhoonesh M. "By the time I entered the water for that race, my abs felt tight, which impacted my speed. However, I am pleased with my overall performance, especially since this was my first experience competing in so many events across different strokes," he remarked. His passion for swimming was ignited by his uncle Manjunath, a former national-level swimmer.
Achievements and Future Aspirations
Earlier this year, Manikanta clinched four gold medals at the Khelo India University Games in Jaipur, where he excelled in both individual and relay events, focusing primarily on breaststroke. Initially, he concentrated on the butterfly event, but a shoulder injury in 2019 led his coach Sinjo to encourage him to enhance his breaststroke skills. "I believe I was meant to excel in breaststroke. Although I trained mainly for butterfly, my first national-level medal in 2016 was in a relay where I swam the breaststroke leg," he explained. Now based in Bengaluru, he trains at the Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre under coach Rajeev RS.
Setting Sights on the Asian Games
When asked if his success at the Khelo India Tribal Games inspired him to compete in more categories in the future, Manikanta firmly declined. "Participating in multiple events is physically taxing and could hinder my performance in my primary event. My focus is solely on breaststroke, with the goal of making it onto the Indian team for the Asian Games 2026 later this year," he stated. Currently, he is recognized as the second-best swimmer in the 200m breaststroke category, following Dhanush S from Tamil Nadu.
Having accumulated over 20 Khelo India medals and two silver and one bronze at senior nationals, Manikanta understands the need to improve his personal best to meet the Asian Games qualifying standard of 2:13.03 seconds. His current best stands at 2:20.55 seconds, while the Indian record is held by Sandeep Sejwal, who achieved a time of 2:12.02 seconds at the 2009 Asian age-group championships. "I have been training rigorously for the past two months with this goal in mind, which is why I performed so well in these nine events. I recognize that qualifying for the Asian Games is challenging, but with continued hard work, I believe it is achievable," he concluded, expressing a desire to secure a position in the Karnataka Police department based on his swimming accomplishments.