Virdhawal Khade
Encyclopedia
Virdhawal Vikram Khade (born in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India) is an Indian swimmer. He competed in the men's 50 m, 100 m and 200 m Freestyle swimming events at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
setting an Indian national record in 100 m Freestyle while winning his unseeded heat, but failed to qualify for the semifinals in his events. He created history on 16 November 2010 when he won a medal after 24 years for India in swimming in the 50m butterfly category at the 2010 Asian games.
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He is the youngest ever Indian swimmer to qualify for an Olympics
. Although he did not qualify for the semifinals of the 100m freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he did finish first in his heat (Heat 3) and set a new personal best of 50.07 seconds, placing him 42nd overall. He came 48th in the 200 m freestyle and 32nd in the 50 m.
On 16 November 2010 Virdhawal Khade became the first Indian swimmer since Khajan Singh
to win a medal at the Asian Games when he went on to capture the Bronze in the 50m Butterfly event at the 16th Asian Games, Guangzhou, China.
He endorses Nike
. He is a supporter of Pratham Books and an active participant in their work on popularising reading among young Indians.
Virdhawal is coached by Nihar Ameen
and trains in Bangalore. He is supported by GoSports Foundation, a sports non profit organisation that aims to promote sporting excellence in India.
A few of his best timings are:
Virdhawal Khade has been recommended for the Arjuna awards 2010 in the swimming category.
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
setting an Indian national record in 100 m Freestyle while winning his unseeded heat, but failed to qualify for the semifinals in his events. He created history on 16 November 2010 when he won a medal after 24 years for India in swimming in the 50m butterfly category at the 2010 Asian games.
Career
He is the Indian National Record-holder in the 50 m, 100 m, 200 m and 400m Freestyle events and in the 50 m Butterfly event. Khade is Senior National Champion, 2006 in 50 m, 100 m, 200 m Freestyle and 50 m Butterfly. He won six Gold Medals and broke three Games Records at the South Asian Games, 2006 and won six Gold medals and broke five Games Records at the 33rd National Games, GuwahatiGuwahati
Guwahati, Pragjyotishpura in ancient Assam formerly known as Gauhati is a metropolis,the largest city of Assam in India and ancient urban area in North East India, with a population of 963,429. It is also the largest metropolitan area in north-eastern India...
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He is the youngest ever Indian swimmer to qualify for an Olympics
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
. Although he did not qualify for the semifinals of the 100m freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he did finish first in his heat (Heat 3) and set a new personal best of 50.07 seconds, placing him 42nd overall. He came 48th in the 200 m freestyle and 32nd in the 50 m.
On 16 November 2010 Virdhawal Khade became the first Indian swimmer since Khajan Singh
Khajan Singh
Khajan Singh is an Indian swimmer, who remained national swimming champion of India, and won a silver medal at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul...
to win a medal at the Asian Games when he went on to capture the Bronze in the 50m Butterfly event at the 16th Asian Games, Guangzhou, China.
He endorses Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
. He is a supporter of Pratham Books and an active participant in their work on popularising reading among young Indians.
Virdhawal is coached by Nihar Ameen
Nihar Ameen
Nihar Ameen is the pre-eminent Indian swimming coach, associated with the K.C. Reddy Swim Centre in Bangalore. Among his trainees are the first Indian athletes to qualify for the Olympics, Shikha Tandon at Athens, 2004 and Virdhawal Khade and Sandeep Sejwal for Beijing, 2008.In 1989-1992, Ameen...
and trains in Bangalore. He is supported by GoSports Foundation, a sports non profit organisation that aims to promote sporting excellence in India.
A few of his best timings are:
- 50m Freestyle: 22.58sec* clocked at the Age group Asian Games, Japan, August 2009
- 100m Freestyle: 49.47sec clocked at the Commonwealth Youth Games, Pune, India, October 2008
- 200m Freestyle: 1:49.86sec clocked at the Commonwealth Youth Games, Pune, India, October 2008
- 400m Freestyle: 4:01.87sec clocked at the 51st MILO/PRAM Malaysia Invitation Open, May 2008
- 50m Butterfly: 24.25sec clocked at the Commonwealth Youth Games, Pune, India, October 2008
Virdhawal Khade has been recommended for the Arjuna awards 2010 in the swimming category.