Odisha discovered a phenomenal swimming talent in Sai Swarup Swain as the Bhubaneswar boy bagged his second gold and third individual medal in the 51st Junior National Aquatic Championships, which concluded at Naranpura Sports Complex in Ahmedabad, Gujarat today.

A cadet of Bhubaneswar-based Odisha-IIS Swimming High Performance Centre, Sai Swarup won his second gold today in boys Group-II (13-14 years) 100m breaststroke with a personal best time of 1:10.61. Reyansh Kanthi Y (Karnataka) secured the silver, clocking 1:12.01, while Abhijith PP (Kerala) claimed the bronze with a time of 1:13.80.

Student of Kendriya Vidyalaya No 1, Bhubaneswar, bespectacled Sai Swarup asserted supremacy in breaststroke events, capturing one gold and one bronze in 50m and 200m earlier in the current Junior National Championship.

Out of six boys and two girls, who represented Odisha in this National championship, Sai Swarup proved to be the only medallist. He created history, becoming the first ever male swimmer to win a gold in National Aquatic Championships.

Among other Odisha swimmers, Jagjit Pradhan qualified for the final in boys Group-I (15-17 years) 50m butterfly event. He, however, finished eighth with a time of 26.39 seconds today. 
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PHOTO: Odisha swimmer Sai Swarup Swain poses with his two gold and one bronze medals at the 51st Junior National Aquatic Championship in Ahmedabad on 7 August 2025.