Back-stroker Srihari primed for Tokyo 2020 qualification event

India’s premier back-stroker feels he is in the best shape ever, ahead of Uzbekistan Open

The final stretch leading into a competition like the Olympic Games is generally reserved by athletes to even out rough edges and chisel their games to perfection. But for Srihari Nataraj, India’s best bet to achieve the elusive A-mark Olympic Qualifying Time in swimming, it has been markedly different. A combination of factors — the National lockdown last year, a shoulder injury and a personal tragedy (loss of his father) — have meant the 20-year-old back-stroker is only back in shape now, looking to get as many events as possible three months shy of the July 23 start date for Tokyo 2020. This week he is in Tashkent for the Uzbekistan Open swimming championships, an Olympic qualification event, hoping to bridge the 0.84 seconds gap between his best timing (54.69s) and the A-mark (53.85s) in his pet 100m backstroke race scheduled for Thursday.