CWG 2026 Swimming: India’s aquatic contingent delivered a solid performance on Day 2 of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. Highlighting an action-packed morning session, debutant para swimmers Karthik Budigina and Ali Imam secured their spots in the medal event for the Men’s 100m Freestyle S13 final, while two-time Olympian Srihari Nataraj successfully advanced to the Men’s 50m Backstroke semifinals.
With three Indian swimmers qualifying for the evening session, Team India has opened up immediate medal opportunities and crucial progression steps in the pool at Glasgow.
Breakthrough in Para Swimming: Budigina and Imam Reach S13 Final
The para swimming discipline provided plenty of reasons to celebrate as 18-year-old Karthik Budigina showcased remarkable poise on his Commonwealth Games debut.
Competing in the Men’s 100m Freestyle S13 heat (a category designated for athletes with visual impairments), Budigina clocked an impressive 57.10 seconds to finish 3rd in his heat. The young Indian displayed strong pacing strategy, turning in 4th place at the 50m wall before unleashing a fast final stretch to claim a top-three finish.
CWG 2026 Men's 100m Freestyle S13 Heat Leaders
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1. Stephen Clegg (Great Britain) : 56.57s
2. Heat Runner-up : ~56.80s
3. Karthik Budigina (India) : 57.10s (+0.53s off lead)
Budigina finished just 0.53 seconds behind Great Britain’s Stephen Clegg, who set the fastest qualifying mark at 56.57 seconds.
Inspirational Journey: Budigina originally pursued rowing before transitioning to para swimming during the COVID-19 pandemic. His rapid development over the past few years has turned him into one of India’s most promising aquatic athletes.
Joined by fellow CWG debutant Ali Imam, India fielded two swimmers in the event. While Imam touched the wall at 1:05.32, he earned his spot in the 8-man final field. Notably, Imam internationally holds an S12 classification but stepped up to compete in the S13 category for these Games, demonstrating commendable resolve against tough opposition.
Srihari Nataraj Advances in Men’s 50m Backstroke
In the conventional swimming categories, national record holder and Olympian Srihari Nataraj navigated through a competitive field to book his place in the 50m Backstroke semifinals.
Swimming in Heat 4, Nataraj touched the wall in 25.52 seconds, placing 5th in his heat and joint-14th overall across five heats. This timing was sufficient to secure one of the 16 semifinal qualification slots.
| Swimmer | Country | Qualification Time | Heat Rank / Overall |
| Pieter Coetze | South Africa | 24.45s | 1st Overall |
| Srihari Nataraj | India | 25.52s | 5th (Heat 4) / 14th Overall |
| Jack Harvey | Bermuda | 25.52s | Joint-14th Overall |
Nataraj entered the Games having clocked a qualifying mark of 25.39 seconds prior to the event. Having brushed off the heat nerves, he will look to slice off crucial hundredths of a second in the evening session to press for a spot in the top 8 final. South Africa’s Pieter Coetze remains the benchmark after leading all qualifiers with a blistering 24.45 seconds.
Evening Schedule: What Lies Ahead for India
The evening session in Glasgow promises high stakes for Indian swimming fans:
- Men’s 100m Freestyle S13 Final: Karthik Budigina and Ali Imam will race for medals, competing against world-class contenders like Great Britain’s Stephen Clegg.
- Men’s 50m Backstroke Semifinals: Srihari Nataraj aims to improve his start and turn execution to challenge for a final spot.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who qualified for the swimming finals for India at CWG 2026?
Karthik Budigina and Ali Imam qualified for the final in the Men’s 100m Freestyle S13 para swimming event.
2. What was Srihari Nataraj’s timing in the 50m backstroke heat?
Srihari Nataraj clocked 25.52 seconds, finishing 5th in Heat 4 and joint-14th overall to reach the semifinals.
3. What does the S13 classification mean in para swimming?
The S13 classification is designated for para athletes with visual impairments. Athletes in this category have the least severe visual impairment among the visual impairment classes (S11, S12, S13).
4. What was Karthik Budigina’s qualifying time for the S13 final?
Budigina clocked 57.10 seconds in his heat, finishing 3rd overall and only 0.53 seconds off the top spot held by Stephen Clegg.
5. Why is Ali Imam competing in S13 if he is S12 classified?
Ali Imam internationally competes in the S12 classification, but because certain specific events are merged at multi-sport Games like the CWG, he stepped up to race in the S13 category.
Conclusion
Day 2 at Glasgow 2026 marked a encouraging step forward for Indian aquatics. Karthik Budigina’s rapid rise from rowing to a Commonwealth final, alongside Ali Imam’s determination, reflects the depth building in Indian para sports. Meanwhile, Srihari Nataraj’s semifinal entry keeps India’s hopes alive in sprint backstroke. All eyes now turn to the evening session as India aims to turn qualification success into medal achievements.
