Virdhawal Khade

 Virdhawal Vikram Khade is an Indian swimmer born on 29th August 1991 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Nihar Ameen is his coach. Virdhawal set an Indian national record in 100 meters Freestyle at the Summer Olympics held in Beijing in 2008. He took part in 50, 100 and 200 meters Freestyle swimming events. In 2010, Virdhawal Vikram Khade won a bronze medal at the Asian Games held in Guangzhou in the 50 meters butterfly event. After 24 years, he was the first Indian to grab a medal in Asian Games for swimming. Before Khade, Sachin Nag won the gold medal in the Asian Games held in New Delhi in 1951 and Khajan Singh Tokas Khajan Singh Tokas is an Indian sports personality >> Read More... won a silver medal in 1986. Virdhawal Vikram Khade holds a National record in 50, 100 and 200m freestyle events and 50m in Butterfly stroke. Virdhawal Vikram Khade holds the record of the first young Indian to qualify for the Olympics. In 2006, he became the senior national champion in 50m, 100m and 200m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly strokes. In 2010, he took part in the Commonwealth Games in the 50m and 100m freestyle, 4 x 100m freestyle relay and 50m and 100m butterfly events. In the relay, they made it to 6th position in the finals. In the 50m butterfly event, he qualified for the finals. At the 34^th National Games held in 2011 in Ranchi, Virdhawal Vikram Khade got the Best Athlete title.

In 2015, he won gold medals in 4 x 100 m freestyle relay and 50m freestyle at the Asian Age-group Championships. In the Commonwealth Games held in 2018, Khade took part in the 50m Freestyle and Butterfly events. But, he advanced to the semis in the butterfly event. In 2016, he participated in the South Asian Games and won the gold in the 50m Butterfly event and silver medal in 50m freestyle. In 2019, he took part in South Asian Games and won a silver medal in the 50m freestyle. He missed the bronze medal by just .01 second in the 50m freestyle event in the 2018 Asian Games. In the same Asian Games, the Indian team reached finals in the freestyle relay event in 4 x 100m and created a national record, although they finished in 8^th position. At the 10^th Asian Age-group Championship held in 2019, he won a gold medal. In 2011, Virdhawal Vikram Khade was honored with the Arjuna Award. Khade is married to Rujuta Khade, who is also a swimmer.