India's best known swimmer Khazan Singhwon won a silver in the 1986 Asian Games, but only a handful from the cricket-mad country have ever met the Olympic qualification standards.
In Beijing, Sandeep Sejwal and Ankur Poseria, who studies and trains in the US, will join Khade in the Indian team.
Although full of praise, the Indian swimming community is wary about expecting too much too soon from the muscular 1.90-metres, 80-kg Khade.
"At his age.... he is the hope of the country," Swimming Federation of India secretary Virendra Nanavati said.
"If he continues this progress, I am sure he'll be among the top 30 swimmers in Beijing."
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