Asian Age Group Swimming Championships: India collect ninth gold after winning men's 4x100 medley relay

Bengaluru: The Indian men’s 4x100m medley relay team comprising Srihari Nataraj, Sajan Prakash, Likith SP and Virdhawal Khade won India’s ninth gold medal at the 10th Asian Age Group Swimming Championships at Bengaluru on Wednesday. [caption id=“attachment_7408601” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Virdhawal Khade, Sajan Prakash, Srihari Nataraj and Likith SP pose after winning the men’s 4x100 medley event. Image credit: Wordswork[/caption] The Indian team clocked 3:46.49 seconds to beat Thailand (3:48.89) and Hong Kong (3:53.99) respectively at the Padukone-Dravid Centre of Sports Excellence. India withstood the challenge posed by Thailand and Hong Kong as they got off to a flying start thanks to Srihari Nataraj (56.55) in backstroke as he finished ahead of Hong Kong’s Lau Shiu Yue (57.72) and Thailand’s Kasipat Chograthin (58.41). Sajan Prakash, diving in next for the butterfly dash, kept up India’s lead with a time of 54.50 seconds while Thailand’s Navaphat Wongcharoen clocked 54.50 seconds and Hong Kong’s Cheung Yau Ming (56.60). Likith SP, swimming breast stroke, was excellent as he extended the lead clocking fastest time of 1:02.47 while Thailand’s Nuttapong Ketin timed 1:03.69 and Hong Kong’s NG Yan Kin clocked 1:05.82 seconds. Khade, who won gold in the 50m freestyle on Wednesday, ensured the first-place finish. He timed 53.00 seconds while Thailand’s Tarit Thongchumsin clocked 52.29 seconds and Hong Kong’s Fung Chung Ho 53.85 seconds.