GLASGOW — India’s men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team delivered a spirited performance at the Commonwealth Games 2026 swimming competition on Sunday, taking nearly ten seconds off their preliminary timing to finish sixth in a high-octane final.
The quartet comprising Dhakshan Shashikumar, Aneesh Sunil Kumar Gowda, Aryan Nehra, and veteran swimmer Srihari Nataraj clocked 7:29.84 in the final. While the performance highlighted significant individual progress, it proved insufficient to bridge the gap against world-class opposition on the big stage.
Aussie Dominance & Record Run
Powerhouse Australia reaffirmed their absolute dominance in the pool, surging to the gold medal with a Commonwealth Games record time of 7:01.47. The Australian team led the field comfortably, leaving silver for England (7:04.98) and bronze for Wales (7:09.59).
India crossed the finish line behind fifth-placed Malaysia (7:23.72), underscoring the formidable gulf that still separates South Asian aquatic talent from elite global contenders.
Rollercoaster Route to the Final
Earlier in the day, the Indian squad clinched their place in the medal round after placing third in Heat 2 with a timing of 7:39.48. That qualifying heat turned out to be a thrilling, head-to-head battle with Jersey.
After Canada withdrew before the start, all four teams in Heat 2 — Australia, England, India, and Jersey — effectively secured passage to the eight-team final. Nevertheless, India fought hard to secure third place in the heat, trading positions with Jersey at the 350m and 450m marks before Srihari Nataraj and the anchor legs surged ahead around the 700m turn.
India entered the final round as the fifth-fastest qualifier overall across both heats, trailing only Australia, Scotland, England, and Wales.
While a podium spot remained out of reach, the squad’s dramatic leap from 7:39.48 in the morning to 7:29.84 in the evening offers a promising benchmark for Indian swimming on the international circuit.
