The Hindu

Hyderabad, Nov 6: Aaron D’Souza set a new National record in the 200m freestyle event the 62nd LIC-Senior National aquatics championship for men and women at GMC Balayogi swimming pool (Gachibowli) here on Wednesday.

The 16-year-old D’Souza clocking 1:54.38, eclipsed the previous record of 1:56.03 set by Virdhawal Khade (Maharashtra) in 2006.

“I am delighted and was honestly expecting this performance,” he said later even while reminding that he would have definitely given a real challenge to Khade if he were to be in the fray.

Then it was the turn of Rehan Poncha to rule the pool with another new National record in the 100m backstroke clocking 59.12 to erase the previous record of 1:00.06 set by M. Balakrishnan of Tamil Nadu in 2007. “The timing could have been better if the start was more perfect,” he said later.

Agnishwar bags gold

J. Agnishwar of Tamil Nadu picked the gold in the 100 m breaststroke in 1:06.42s.

In women’s 100m breaststroke, V. Tejaswini won the gold with a timing of 1:21.95 to ward off the challenge of Priyanka Priyadarshini (Delhi) and Poorva Shetye (Maharashtra).

The results: All finals:

Men: 200m freestyle: 1. Aaron D’ Souza (Kar) 1:54.38 (NR), 2. M. A. Divase (Police) 1:56.84, 2. Ashwin Menon (Kar) 1:59.14; 100m breaststroke: 1. J. Agnishwar (TN) 1:06.42, 2. Rohit Kumar (Police) 1:06.68, 3. J. P. Arun (Kar) 1:06.71; 100m backstroke: 1. Rehan Poncha (Kar) 59.12 (NR), 2. M. B. Balakrishnan (TN) 1:00.14, 3. N. A. Sandeep (Kar) 1:01.43.

Women: 200m freestyle: 1. Arhatha Magavi (Kar) 2:12.07, 2. Arti Ghorpade (Mah) 2:15.50, 3. Kshipra Mahajan (Kar) 2:16.73; 100m breaststroke: 1. V. Tejaswini (Kar) 1:21.95, 2. Priyanka Priyadarshini (Dli) 1:22.85, 3. Poorva Shetye (Maha) 1:22.96; 100m backstroke: 1. Fariha Zaman (Assam) 1:08.93, 2. Amreen Mallik (AP) 1:10.74, 2. C. Aishwarya (TN) 1:11.20.