Virdhawal Vikram Khade (born 29 August 1991) ( mr, विरधवल खाडे) is an

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

swimmer. He competed in the men's 50, 100, and 200 meters Freestyle swimming events at the 2008 Summer Olympics in

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, setting an Indian national record in 100 meters Freestyle. He failed to qualify for the semifinals in his events despite winning his qualification heat. Khade won a bronze medal in the 50 meters butterfly event at the 2010 Asian Games in

Guangzhou Guangzhou (, ; ; or ; ), also known as Canton () and alternatively romanized as Kwongchow or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. Located on the Pearl River about north-northwest of Hong Kon ...

; it was India's first Asian Games medal in swimming in 24 years. He was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 2011 by the

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Career

Khade is the national record-holder in the 50m, 100m and 200m Freestyle events and in the 50m Butterfly. Khade is Senior National Champion, 2006 in 50m, 100m, 200m Freestyle and 50m 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,

Guwahati Guwahati (, ; formerly rendered Gauhati, ) is the biggest city of the Indian state of Assam and also the largest metropolis in northeastern India. Dispur, the capital of Assam, is in the circuit city region located within Guwahati and is the ...

. 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.

Commonwealth Games

At the

2010 Commonwealth Games The 2010 Commonwealth Games (Hindi: 2010 राष्ट्रमण्डल खेल), officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Delhi 2010, was an international multi-sport event that was held in Delhi, India, ...

, Khade participated in the 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m and 100m butterfly, and freestyle relay. He was part of the freestyle relay which made history by reaching finals and finishing at 6th position. He also qualified for the finals in 50m Butterfly event. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Khade participated in the 50m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly events. He made it to semi-finals in the 50m butterfly event.

Asian Games

Khade won a bronze medal in the 50m Butterfly event at the 16th Asian Games, ending a 24-year wait for Indian swimming. Sachin Nag was the first Indian to win a swimming gold medal in 1951 Asian games held in New Delhi. At the

2018 Asian Games The 2018 Asian Games ( id, Pesta Olahraga Asia 2018 or ''Asian Games 2018''), officially known as the 18th Asian Games and also known as Jakarta-Palembang 2018 or Indonesia 2018, was a continental multi-sport event that was held from 18 Augus ...

, Khade participated in 50m Butterfly, 50m Freestyle, and Freestyle Relay. Khade finished 4th in the 50m Freestyle event, missing bronze medal by 0.01 seconds. Khade also reached finals in the Freestyle relay where the Indian team broke national record in morning heats and finished 8th in finals.

South Asian Games

Khade won gold medal in 50m Butterfly and silver in 50m Freestyle event at the

2016 South Asian Games The 2016 South Asian Games, officially the XII South Asian Games, is a major multi-sport event which took place from 5 February to 16 February 2016 in Guwahati and Shillong, India. A total of 2,672 athletes competed in 226 events over 22 spor ...

. He won silver medal in the 50m Freestyle at

2019 South Asian Games The 2019 South Asian Games, officially the XIII South Asian Games, was a major multi-sport event which was originally slated to be held from 9 to 18 March 2019 in Kathmandu and Pokhara, Nepal. However, the dates were postponed and the event was ...

Asian Age-group Championships

Khade won gold medals in 50m Freestyle event and Freestyle relay at Asian Age-group Championships 2015. In 2019, Khade won gold medal at the 10th Asian Age Group Championship. Khade was adjudged best athlete at the 34th National Games, held at Ranchi in the year 2011. 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.

Statistics

A few of his best timings are: * *50m Freestyle: 22.43sec clocked at

, Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia, August 2018 *100m Freestyle: 49.47sec clocked at 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games, Pune, India, October 2008 *200m Freestyle: 1:49.86sec clocked at 2008 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: 24.09sec clocked at 2018 Asian Games, Palembang, Indonesia, 2018 *100 Butterfly: 52.77sec clocked at Asian Age group swimming Championships, Japan, 2009

Awards

Virdhawal Khade was awarded with the Arjuna award 2011 in the swimming category.

Personal life

He is married to fellow swimmer Rujuta Khade. weight- 187 Ib (85 kg)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Khade, Virdhawal 1991 births Living people Indian male swimmers Indian male freestyle swimmers Indian male butterfly swimmers Indian male medley swimmers People from Kolhapur Swimmers from Maharashtra Olympic swimmers of India Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics Commonwealth Games competitors for India Swimmers at the 2010 Commonwealth Games Asian Games medalists in swimming Swimmers at the 2006 Asian Games Swimmers at the 2010 Asian Games Swimmers at the 2018 Asian Games Asian Games bronze medalists for India Medalists at the 2010 Asian Games Recipients of the Arjuna Award South Asian Games gold medalists for India South Asian Games silver medalists for India South Asian Games medalists in swimming 20th-century Indian people 21st-century Indian people