Veteran Indian swimmer Virdhawal Khade has retired from domestic competitions after winning the 50m freestyle gold at the National Games here.
Khade touched the wall to pip India’s upcoming swimming sensation Srihari Nataraj for the 50m freestyle gold on Tuesday night.
It was quite clear from the celebration that the gold medal winning performance meant something more for the man who became the youngest Indian swimmer to qualify for the Olympics back in 2008.
He had then ended India’s 24-year wait for a swimming medal at the Asian Games in 2010 with a bronze in 50m butterfly. Khade revealed that the National Games are set to be his last outing as a competitive swimmer in India and he wanted to end things on a high.
“What is also special about this medal is that I won my first national medal back in 2001 in Goa and today it feels like life has come full circle with the gold medal at my last Nationals again in Goa,” he said.
“Back then, I could never have imagined I would become the swimmer that I am today, so I really want to thank all the coaches and all the people who have been a part of this journey,” said one of India’s most decorated swimmers.
Khade had announced his arrival on the national scene at the Junior Nationals in Margao in 2001 and broke multiple national records in the years to come.
