How a 10‑Year‑Old’s Escape from British Police Shaped Indian Swimming

The origins of India's first swimming champion are rooted in a dramatic episode on the banks of the Ganges. In 1930, a young Sachin Nag, then ten, participated in a mass gathering at Varanasi’s ghats as part of the nationwide civil‑disobedience movement. When British officers resorted to lathi charge, the boy dove into the river to protect himself. While waterlogged, an ongoing 10‑kilometre swimming race offered an unexpected outlet, and officials counted him among the swimmers.

His impromptu plunge resulted in a third‑place finish, a moment that sparked a lifelong passion for the sport. Over the next six years, Nag competed in a series of local meets, impressing the famed coach Jamini Das, who invited him to Kolkata for advanced instruction. Representing the Hatkola Club, he dominated state championships, winning the 100‑metre and 400‑metre freestyle races in 1938.

In 1939, Nag equalled the national 100‑metre record and set a new best in the 200‑metre freestyle. The following year he shattered Dilip Mitra’s long‑standing 100‑metre record, launching a nine‑year reign as the state’s top sprinter.

Aiming for the 1948 Olympics, Nag’s aspirations were jeopardised by a gunshot injury sustained in 1947. After a two‑year medical restriction, he resumed a grueling training schedule, supported by a fundraising concert led by celebrated singer Hemant Mukhopadhyay. The funds enabled his participation in London, where he finished sixth in the 100‑metre freestyle.

At the inaugural Asian Games in Delhi (8 March 1951), Nag captured the gold medal in the 100‑metre freestyle and added two bronze medals in relay events (4×100‑metre and 3×100‑metre). He also represented India at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.

Sachin Nag passed away on 19 August 1987 at the age of 67. In 2020, the Government of India honoured his contributions with the Dhyan Chand Award, cementing his place in the annals of Indian sport.