Asian Games swimming: Khade says error cost him bronze

GUANGZHOU - After missing the swimming medal by a stroke, India’s Veerdhawal Khade said a mistake cost him a bronze at men’s 50 metres freestyle event at the Asian Games here Monday.

Khade clocked a time of 22.87 seconds, but was just 0.03 seconds off the pace, behind Japanese Rammaru Harada, who won the bronze with 22.84 seconds.

The gold was won by Chinese Lu Zhi Wu (22.37 seconds) and the silver went to Japan’s Masayuki Kishida (22.45 sec).

“I made a mistake by reaching out for the board with my right hand. Another stroke instead and the result could have been different,” Khade said.

Khade qualified for the final after he finished third in the sixth heat with a timing of 22.98 seconds. Khade was the only Indian to qualify for the final in the day.

The last Indian to win a individual swimming medal at the Asian Games was Khazan Singh Tokas, who won a silver in 200 metres butterfly in Seoul in 1986.

The only Indian swimmer to win a gold medal so far was Sachin Nag in the 100 metres freestyle at the inaugural Asian Games in Delhi in 1951.

India, however, won two medals in water polo — a silver at the 1970 Bangkok Games and a bronze in Delhi in 1982.