Asian Para Games 2026: Ravi Karthik Budigina Wins Silver In Men’s 100m Freestyle S13

India’s Ravi Karthik Budigina sealed the silver medal in the men’s 100m freestyle S13 event at the Asian Para Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan on Monday. He clocked 56.68 seconds to finish behind Uzbekistan’s Egor Bolotov. He put in a strong show to get the podium finish for India. But Bolotov proved too quick for the Indian swimmer, claiming the gold medal with a winning margin of 3.78 seconds. Kazakhstan’s Viktor Volkov completed the podium, finishing third in 57.23 seconds.

Ravi Karthik Budigina won a silver medal.

Budigina was swimming in lane five, scoring the opening 50 metres in 27.51 seconds, putting himself in contention during the first half of the race. But Bolotov took control over the remaining distance, opening up a further gap in the final 50 metres to clinch gold.

Budigina eventually touched the wall in 56.68 seconds, earning the silver medal in a competitive field. Despite missing out on gold, the Indian swimmer’s performance added another podium finish to India’s campaign at the continental para-sport event.

Bolotov’s performance ensured that Uzbekistan claimed the top spot in the event, while Budigina finished second to take silver. Volkov secured bronze for Kazakhstan after completing the race in 57.23 seconds.

The S13 classification is designated for para swimmers with a visual impairment. The 100m freestyle requires athletes to combine speed, technique and endurance across two lengths of a standard 50-metre pool, making the opening pace and final stretch crucial to the outcome.

For Budigina, the silver medal represents a significant achievement on the international stage and strengthens India’s presence in para swimming at the Asian Para Games. His performance also adds to the country’s efforts to secure medals across multiple disciplines at the ongoing competition in Japan.

His second-place finish in the men’s 100m freestyle S13 highlighted his ability to compete against some of Asia’s leading para swimmers. While Bolotov took gold after pulling away in the closing stages, the Indian swimmer held on to secure silver and deliver another encouraging result for the Indian contingent in Aichi-Nagoya.

Neelav Chakravarti is a sports journalist with 8.5 years of experience, pr… Neelav Chakravarti is a sports journalist with 8.5 years of experience, primarily in digital media. He has reported extensively on Indian football and chess, with a strong focus on governance, grassroots development, and the broader sporting ecosystem. Before joining Times Network, he worked at Hindustan Times, NDTV, and Outlook. View MoreView Less