Aditi Satish Hegde Shines at Khelo India Youth Games 2025 with Seven Medals
Aditi's Remarkable Performance at Khelo India Youth Games 2025
Gaya (Bihar) [India] - Aditi Satish Hegde arrived at the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 in Bihar with a strong desire to improve upon her previous year's performance, where she secured five medals, including two golds. Her dedication bore fruit as the talented swimmer from Maharashtra dazzled at the BIPARD Swimming Pool, clinching an impressive total of seven medals, five of which were gold.
The young athlete from Nashik not only excelled by winning three gold and two bronze medals in individual events but also significantly improved her times from last year's competitions held in Chennai and Gaya. A notable highlight was her performance in the 800m Freestyle, where she earned a bronze medal while reducing her time by an impressive 19.42 seconds compared to the previous year.
Aditi's gold medals in the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 were achieved in the 200m Freestyle (2:09.51), 400m Freestyle (4:32.87), and 100m Butterfly (1:04.73). Additionally, she secured bronze in the 800m Freestyle (9:28.20) and 1500m Freestyle (18:22.97). She also contributed to Maharashtra's victories in the 4x100m Freestyle and 4x100m Medley relays. The only event where she did not medal was the 50m Freestyle, as reported by a Khelo India Youth Games release.
Her success was not merely coincidental; it stemmed from extensive preparation leading up to the event. Earlier this year, during the National Games in Haldwani (Uttarakhand), Aditi showcased her potential by winning bronze medals in both the 200m and 400m Freestyle events, contributing to Maharashtra's tally of five silver and one bronze in relay events.
Aditi, a Khelo India athlete training at the KI-accredited Agnel Charities in Navi Mumbai, is known for her reserved nature outside the pool, often responding to questions with short answers. However, once she enters the water, her true spirit shines through, displaying a champion's grace and competitive edge. Her fluid movements and determination create a formidable combination.
In her final race, the challenging 1500m Freestyle, Aditi faced difficulties during several laps but, with encouragement from her mother, Radhika Hegde, who cheered from the sidelines, she managed to secure a podium finish, demonstrating her unwavering competitive spirit despite not being at her peak.
The Khelo India Youth Games 2025 highlighted Aditi's journey, which began under the mentorship of dedicated coaches Shankar Madgundi and Vikas Bhadange at the Rajmata Jijau Swimming Pool on Nashik Road. Given her remarkable progress over the past year, it is clear that Aditi Satish Hegde has a bright future ahead.