Sixteen-year-old swimmer clinches bronze in the women’s 100m freestyle at Dakar 2026, setting a new national record of 56.27 seconds
Mumbai/Pune : Indian swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu has created history by winning the country’s first-ever swimming medal at the Youth Olympic Games, securing bronze in the women’s 100m freestyle at Dakar 2026 with a national record time of 56.27 seconds.
The 16-year-old Bengaluru swimmer finished behind Croatia’s Ana Bobanović, who claimed gold in 55.89 seconds, and New Zealand’s Alyssa Lawson, who secured silver in 56.13 seconds. The achievement also makes Dhinidhi the first Indian female swimmer to reach a Youth Olympic swimming final.
A Paris 2024 Olympian, Dhinidhi was the youngest member of India’s contingent at the Games at just 14. Her journey from being initially afraid of water to becoming one of India’s promising swimmers reflects years of dedication, discipline and determination.
Bajaj Finserv, which began supporting Dhinidhi earlier this year, congratulated the swimmer on her historic achievement. The partnership is designed to provide long-term support beyond conventional sponsorship, covering training, competition exposure, equipment, fitness and recovery. The association was facilitated by sports talent management company Baseline Ventures.
Manav Mianwal, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Bajaj Finserv Ltd. and President – Digital Platforms, Bajaj Finance Ltd., said Dhinidhi’s achievement was a proud moment for India and an inspiration for young athletes. He highlighted the importance of supporting sporting talent well before athletes reach the podium and congratulated Dhinidhi, her family and coaches.
Supporting India’s next generation of sporting talent
Bajaj Finserv’s support for Dhinidhi is part of its broader commitment to nurturing young athletes across swimming, badminton and tennis. The company plans to support several swimmers and is also backing emerging badminton players.
In tennis, through its partnership with the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association, Bajaj Finserv supports four promising players: Diya Ramesh, Deepshika Vinayagamurthy, Savitha Bhuvaneswaran and Sree Syleswari Velmanikandan.
The support programme focuses on helping young athletes access quality coaching, training facilities, competition opportunities, equipment, nutrition, fitness support, travel and accommodation.
Dhinidhi’s historic bronze highlights the importance of combining individual talent and determination with sustained institutional support, marking a significant moment for Indian swimming at the international level.