Virdhawal Khade facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Virdhawal Khade

Khade in 2008
Personal information
Nickname(s)	"Veer" (Brave)
Born	(1991-08-29) 29 August 1991 (age 33) Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	187 pounds (85 kg)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle, butterfly, medley
Medal record Men's swimming Representing  India Asian Games Bronze 2010 Guangzhou 50m butterfly South Asian Games Gold 2006 Colombo 100 m freestyle Gold 2006 Colombo 200 m freestyle Gold 2006 Colombo 50 m butterfly Gold 2006 Colombo 4×100 m freestyle relay Gold 2006 Colombo 4×200 m freestyle relay Gold 2010 Dhaka 50 m freestyle Gold 2010 Dhaka 50 m butterfly Gold 2016 Guwahati 50 m butterfly Gold 2019 Kathmandu 4×100 m relay medley Silver 2016 Guwahati 50 m freestyle Silver 2019 Kathmandu 50 m freestyle Silver 2019 Kathmandu 50 m butterfly Silver 2019 Kathmandu 4×100 m relay freestyle

Virdhawal Vikram Khade (born August 29, 1991) is a famous Indian swimmer. He is known for his speed in freestyle and butterfly events. Virdhawal competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. There, he set a new Indian record in the 100-meter freestyle race. He also won a bronze medal at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. This was a big achievement, as it was India's first swimming medal at the Asian Games in 24 years! In 2011, the Indian government honored him with the Arjuna Award, a special prize for great athletes.

Swimming Career Highlights

Virdhawal Khade holds the national record for India in several swimming events. These include the 50m, 100m, and 200m freestyle races. He also holds the record in the 50m butterfly event.

Early Achievements

In 2006, Virdhawal became the Senior National Champion. He won titles in the 50m, 100m, and 200m freestyle, plus the 50m butterfly. At the 2006 South Asian Games, he earned six gold medals. He also broke three Games Records during these events. Later, at the 33rd National Games in Guwahati, he won six more gold medals. He broke five Games Records there.

Olympic Games Debut

Virdhawal made history as the youngest Indian swimmer to qualify for the Olympics. He competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In the 100m freestyle, he finished first in his heat. He set a new personal best time of 50.07 seconds. Overall, he placed 42nd in this event. He also competed in the 200m freestyle and 50m freestyle races.

Commonwealth Games Appearances

Virdhawal competed in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. He took part in the 50m and 100m freestyle events. He also swam in the 50m and 100m butterfly races. He was part of the 4 × 100 m freestyle relay team. This team made history by reaching the finals and finishing in 6th place. He also made it to the finals in the 50m Butterfly event.

He returned to the 2018 Commonwealth Games. There, he swam in the 50m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly events. He reached the semi-finals in the 50m butterfly.

Asian Games Success

At the 16th Asian Games, Virdhawal won a bronze medal in the 50m Butterfly event. This was a very important win for Indian swimming. It was the first Asian Games medal for India in 24 years! The first Indian to win a swimming gold at the Asian Games was Sachin Nag in 1951.

At the 2018 Asian Games, Virdhawal competed in the 50m Butterfly and 50m Freestyle. He also swam in the 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay. In the 50m Freestyle, he finished 4th. He missed winning a bronze medal by a tiny 0.01 seconds. The Indian relay team broke a national record in the heats. They finished 8th in the finals.

South Asian Games Medals

Virdhawal won a gold medal in the 50m Butterfly at the 2016 South Asian Games. He also earned a silver medal in the 50m Freestyle at the same games.

At the 2019 South Asian Games, he won another silver medal in the 50m Freestyle.

Asian Age-group Championships

In 2015, Virdhawal won gold medals at the Asian Age-group Championships. He won in the 50m Freestyle event and the 4 × 100 m Freestyle relay.

He won another gold medal in 2019 at the 10th Asian Age Group Championship.

Training and Support

Virdhawal is coached by Nihar Ameen. He trains in Bangalore, India. He gets support from the GoSports Foundation. This group helps promote sports excellence in India.

Best Swimming Times

Here are some of Virdhawal's fastest times in different races:

• 50m Freestyle: 22.43 seconds. He achieved this at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• 100m Freestyle: 49.47 seconds. This time was set at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India.
• 200m Freestyle: 1 minute, 49.86 seconds. Also achieved at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games.
• 50m Butterfly: 24.09 seconds. He swam this at the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia.

Awards and Recognition

In 2011, Virdhawal Khade received the Arjuna Award. This is one of India's highest honors for athletes. It recognizes outstanding achievements in sports.

Personal Life

Virdhawal is married to Rujuta Khade. She is also a swimmer.

Images for kids

• 

  Virdhawal Khade in 2008