Sandeep Sejwal gave India's floundering swimming campaign a massive fillip by fetching a rare bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke of the Asian Games on Friday.
The 25-year-old topped his heat, clocking 28.25 seconds, before holding on to third place in the final with a timing of 28.26s.
Complete coverage: 2014 Asian Games
The gold medal was won by Kazakhstan's Dmitriy Balandin, who bettered the Games' record of 27.80s with a timing of 27.78s.
Japan's Yasuhiro Koseki, who clocked 27.89s, clinched the silver.
Sejwal's medal came as huge respite to the Indian swimming team which had been struggling to even make the final of various events.
In the previous edition of the Games, India ended a 24-year medal drought in discipline with Virdhawal Khade's bronze in the 50m butterfly.
Before Khade, Khajan Singh won a medal in the Asiad way back in 1986. He clinched a silver in the 200m butterfly.
Image: Sandeep Sejwal reacts after winning the bronze medal in 50m breaststroke at the Asian Games.
Photograph: PTI
