In swimming, young Indian talent Dhinidhi Desinghu and seasoned campaigner Srihari Nataraj have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics through the Universality quota, as announced by the Swimming Federation of India.
In February, 14-year-old Dhinidhi set a record-breaking swim, clocking the ‘Best Indian Time’ in the girls’ 100m freestyle event and finishing fourth at the 11th Asian Group Aquatics Championships in the Philippines. Her performance surpassed that of Olympian Maana Patel and 21-year-old Shivangi Sarma at the event. Dhinidhi, also a national record holder in women’s 200m freestyle, has been in exceptional form in 2024, winning two gold and two silver medals across events in Singapore, India, and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, ace swimmer Srihari Nataraj, the national record holder in 200m freestyle, secured a gold medal in the men’s 100m backstroke at the same event, further boosting his chances of qualifying through the Universality Place.
The Universality quota aims to enhance the diversity of sports at the Olympics by providing opportunities for athletes from countries with traditionally smaller delegations. These quota places are allocated to eligible National Olympic Committees by the Olympic Games Tripartite Commission, comprising representatives from the International Olympic Committee, the Association of National Olympic Committees, and the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.
