Daijiworld Media Network – Glasgow
Glasgow, Jul 22: Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash has said he is taking his career one step at a time as he prepares for what could be his final push on the international stage, while remaining undecided on whether he will continue until the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which India is set to host.
The 32-year-old, who endured physical and mental burnout following his Paris Olympics qualification campaign, said he is now in a much better place and is focused on the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games before making any long-term decision.
"I would love to continue, but I am not sure if I have it in me. After the Paris qualification campaign, I went through a difficult phase with a lot of fatigue and burnout. Thankfully, I am in a much better place now, both physically and performance-wise," Sajan said during an interaction organised by the Sports Authority of India.
He added that he does not want to make any commitment about competing in 2030 until he assesses his performance over the next two major events.
"I want to take it one step at a time, see how the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games go, and then make a decision. Since I have decided to make one final push, I will give it everything I have got," he said.
Sajan, who finished 46th in the men's 100m butterfly at the Tokyo Olympics with a timing of 53.45 seconds, admitted the disappointment led to burnout and a prolonged break from competitive swimming before he returned to the pool.
Speaking on the future of Indian swimming, Sajan stressed that sustained investment and structured development programmes were more important than identifying individual stars.
"Success comes from investing in a long-term vision and a structured programme. Whichever club, academy or institution is committed to that approach will produce top swimmers," he said.
He noted that many talented swimmers fail to realise their potential because they do not remain in long-term training systems.
Among the emerging talents, Sajan singled out Rohit Benedicton for his performances in the butterfly events and Rishabh Das for his backstroke abilities, saying both swimmers have a bright future despite Rishabh not being part of the current Commonwealth Games squad.
For Sajan, success is measured not only by medals but also by continuous personal improvement.
"For me, success means achieving a personal best while also winning medals for the nation. A personal best reflects the progress made in training, while medals bring glory to the country. The two go hand in hand," he said.