Commonwealth Games 2022: Srihari Nataraj dejected after finishing 7th in men’s 100m backstroke – I gave it everything

Indian swimmer Srihari Nataraj was disappointed after he finished seventh in the men’s 100m backstroke on Saturday, July 30. Earlier, the 21-year-old gave India hopes of a podium finish after qualifying for the finals with a time of 54.55 seconds.

However, the Bangalore-born Nataraj finished with a timing of 54.31 seconds in the final. He was fifth in the 50 metre split, but was pushed back in the first lane.

The youngster said that despite trying his heart out, he failed to finish among the top swimmers. Nataraj said that he should have pressed the accelerator in the first 50 metres of the race.

“I’m completely exhausted now. I gave it everything but on this day that’s all I had in me,” Nataraj was quoted as saying.

“I swam according to my plan, focused on myself. I could have opened the first 50 a little faster. I had a good turn and a good start. My third 25m, according to the video, was really really good. They said I caught up with everyone but in hindsight I could have had the first 50m a bit faster,” he stated.

“I have a couple of more events and I’ll make sure this does not happen. I gave it everything, I had nothing left,” Nataraj added.

Earlier in his career, Nataraj racked up his personal best and created the national record by clocking 53.77 seconds. It also helped him seal a berth in the Tokyo Olympics. Had he put in the same performance at CWG, he would have won the gold medal.

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