Asian Games bronze medallist Virdhawal Khade bagged a gold medal in the men's 50m freestyle event at the 68th senior National aquatic championship at the Subhash Sarobar swimming complex here today.
Returning to the pool after about two years, the Maharashtra lanky swimmer, who bagged Asiad bronze in Guangzhou four years ago, clocked 23.14s to comfortably pip Railways' Aaron DSouza for the gold.
The Kolhapur swimmer has the national record timing of 22.71s in the 50m freestyle, a record he set way back in 2009.
Meanwhile, Sajan Prakash of the Railways beat Saurabh Sangvekar of Maharashtra with a record timing of 15:45.83s in the 1500m freestyle.
Incidentally it was Sangvekar, who held the previous national record of 15:51.10s while representing Karnataka in 2011 nationals.
Results:
Men
1500m freestyle: 1 Sajan Prakash (RSPB: 15:45.83s NR), 2 Saurabh Sangvekar (Maha; 16:00.58), 3 Sanu Debnath (RSPB: 16:20.61)
200m Backstroke: 1 Rohit Havaldar (Maha; 02:07.73), 2 Madhu PS (SSCB; 02:08.68), 3 Arvind M (Kar; 02:09.66)
50m Breast stroke: 1 Sandeep Sejwal (RSPB; 28.69), 2 Puneet Rana (Police; 29.35), 3 Arjun JP (RSPB; 29.51).
50m Freestyle: 1 Virdhawal Khade (Maha; 23.14), 2 Aaron D'Souza (RSPB; 23.40), 3 Anshul Kothari (Guj; 23.60).
High board: 1 Tushar Gitaye (RSPB; 335.35), 2 CH Puskar Meitei (SSCB; 321.05), 3 Gaurav Raghuwanshi (MP; 299.40).
Women
400m IM: 1 Richa Mishra (Police; 05:07.00), 2 VKR Minakshi (TN; 05:21.23), 3 Sayani Ghosh (Ben; 05:24.04)
50m Breast stroke: 1 AV Jayaveena (TN: 35.34), 2 Chahat Arora (Chandi; 36.34), 3 Poorva Shetye (Maha; 36.52).
