Indian swimmer Sajan Prakash has emphasised the importance of balancing personal achievements with medal-winning performances as he prepares for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The experienced Olympian said that while achieving personal best timings reflects an athlete’s growth and progress, winning medals plays a crucial role in bringing recognition and pride to the country on the international stage.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will begin with the Opening Ceremony in Glasgow on July 23 and will continue for 11 days before concluding on August 2. Swimming competitions are scheduled to take place from July 24 to July 29. Ahead of the event, Sajan praised the support provided by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and said individual improvements and medal success should be viewed as achievements that complement each other.

“Personal best is always knowing that you have progressed,” Sajan said while speaking to reporters. He added that strong performances in training often translate into competition results, but medals remain important because they help enhance India’s reputation in global sport. The 32-year-old swimmer also spoke about the responsibility of representing the country as one of India’s senior athletes.

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Sajan said experience brings greater accountability, particularly in terms of preparation, communication, and handling expectations. He stressed that performance on race day depends on months of preparation and maintaining focus despite external pressures. According to him, representing India has always carried responsibility, regardless of whether he was a senior member of the team or a younger athlete.

Sajan Prakash has played a historic role in Indian swimming, becoming the country’s first swimmer to earn direct Olympic qualification by achieving the official qualifying standard. He secured his place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after recording 1:56.38 in the men’s 200m butterfly at the Sette Colli Trophy in Rome in 2021, breaking the national record and surpassing the Olympic Qualification Time. His achievement marked a major milestone, as previous Indian swimmers had reached the Olympics through quota-based qualification. Tokyo 2020 was his second Olympic appearance after his debut at Rio 2016, further establishing his place among India’s most accomplished swimmers.

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