Indian swimmer Astha Choudhury from Assam made headlines at the Singapore National Swimming Championships by winning gold and setting a new national record in the women’s 200m butterfly. The 22-year-old clocked an impressive 2:17.09 in the super final on March 17, 2026, shattering the previous Best Indian Time of 2:18.18 held by Apeksha Fernandes for four years.
Competing at the Age Group Championships, Astha finished second overall behind Japan’s Matsuura Yu (2:15.91), who was in the U17 category. This secured her gold in the senior 18-and-over section. In the preliminary heat, she posted 2:18.37 to top her group and advance. Her coach, Sandeep Sejwal, celebrated the milestone from the Indian Institute of Sports (IIS) Vijayanagar team.
India shone brightly on Day 1, grabbing three more medals: silver for Shirin in 1500m freestyle, silver for Srihari Nataraj in 100m backstroke, and bronze for Sajan Prakash in 200m individual medley. Astha’s record-breaking swim marks a strong start to 2026, a key year ahead of major events like the Olympics. It highlights India’s rising prowess in swimming, with Northeast talent leading the charge.
FAQs [Frequently Asked Questions]
1. What record did Astha Choudhury set?
She set a new Indian national record in women’s 200m butterfly with 2:17.09, beating Apeksha Fernandes’ 2:18.18 mark from four years ago.
2. Did Astha win gold in the overall final?
No, she finished second overall to Japan’s Matsuura Yu (2:15.91) but won gold in the senior 18+ category.
3. What was Astha’s prelim time?
Astha clocked 2:18.37 in the preliminary round, finishing first in her heat to qualify for the super final.
4. What other medals did India win on Day 1?
Silvers for Shirin (1500m freestyle) and Srihari Nataraj (100m backstroke), plus bronze for Sajan Prakash (200m IM).
(*Image Source- Sentinel Assam)