Virdhawal Khade

Infobox Swimmer
swimmername = Virdhawal Khade

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fullname = Virdhawal Khade
nicknames = "Veer" (Brave)
nationality = IND
strokes = Freestyle, Butterfly
birthdate =birth date and age|1991|08|29
birthplace =Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
deathdate =
deathplace =
height = height|ft=6|in=3
weight = convert|182|lb|kg
medaltemplates =

Virdhawal Khade (born in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India on August 29, 1991), is India's top swimming talent. 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 heat, but failed to qualify for the semifinals in his events.

Career

Khade was tabbed the "fastest 15-year-old in the world" in 50 m, 100 m and 200 m Freestyle in 2006.

He is the Indian National Record-holder in the 50 m [" [http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/14/stories/2008071455791700.htm The boy who would be king] ", "The Hindu", July 14 2008. Retrieved on 2008-07-15.] , 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, Guwahati.

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. [100m Freestyle, Heat 3, 2008 Beijing Olympics [http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/SW/C73A1/SWM011903.shtml#SWM011903] ]

He endorses Speedo swim gear and is sponsored by the Mittal Champions Trust [" [http://www.mittalchampionstrust.com Mittal Champions Trust] "] and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. [" [http://yas.nic.in Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports] "] He is a supporter of Pratham Books [" [http://www.prathambooks.org Pratham Books] "] and an active participant in their work on popularising reading among young Indians.

Virdhawal is coached by Nihar Ameen ["Vivek Phadnis. " [http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jul192007/sportscene2007071813644.asp Applying gloss to top talent] ", "Deccan Herald", July 19 2007. Retrieved on 2008-07-15.] and trains in Bangalore. His career is managed by the team at GoSports [" [http://www.gosports.in GoSports] ] .

A few of his best timings are:

*50m Freestyle: 22.69sec* clocked at the 2nd FINA World Youth Swimming Championships, July 2008
*100m Freestyle: 50.07sec clocked at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, August 12 2008
*200m Freestyle: 1:50.35sec clocked at the 2nd FINA World Youth Swimming Championships, July 2008
*400m Freestyle: 4:01.87sec clocked at the 51st MILO/PRAM Malaysia Invitation Open, May 2008
*50m Butterfly: 24.91sec clocked at the 51st MILO/PRAM Malaysia Invitation Open, May 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.gosports.in/athletes/veer/profile.html Virdhawal's homepage]
* [http://virdhawal.blogspot.com/ Virdhawal's Blog]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Virdhawal-Khade/10177092609 Virdhawal's fanpage on Facebook]