The Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, for Srihari Nataraj, offers another opportunity to turn years of steady progress into history. At the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, the Bengaluru swimmer finished fifth in the men’s 50m backstroke final with a time of 25.23 seconds, narrowly missing out on a medal. Four years later, he heads to Glasgow after clocking 25.21 seconds in the 50m backstroke heats at the Senior National Aquatics Championships in Ahmedabad, qualifying for the Games and once again carrying India’s hopes of winning its first individual Commonwealth Games swimming medal. Early years Srihari Nataraj’s swimming journey began when he was just two-and-a-half years old, inspired by his elder brother and encouraged by his mother. By the age of five, he had won his first competitive medal, and the sport quickly became a passion. Over the years, he has established himself as one of India’s finest backstroke swimmers, holding seven national records and representing the country at two Olympic Games. Glasgow 2026 will mark his third Commonwealth Games appearance. International breakthrough Nataraj made …