Himanshu Nandal clinched bronze in the men’s 400m freestyle S11, clocking 5:10.91, in a tight four‑swimmer race that saw China’s Chuanzhen Sun storm home with an Asian‑record time.
The 22‑year‑old from Rohtak edged past Japan’s Uchu Tomita by 0.3 seconds, turning a four‑man field into a podium finish that felt like a personal redemption after a narrow fourth in backstroke the day before.
Nandal’s journey from a judo medalist to a para‑swimmer is as inspiring as his performance. A blind athlete since birth, he pivoted to swimming in 2021 and has already carved a niche in the S11 category.
Coaches say the race was a “tactical masterclass” as Nandal paced himself, holding off a late surge from the bronze‑medal contender, securing the spot with just a 0.2‑second margin.
India now sits on 24 medals in Nagoya, with Nandal’s bronze pushing the tally to five gold, eight silver and 11 bronze. The next round of heats will see Indian swimmers chase their own records and aim for more podiums.