Likith Selvaraj is an Indian professional swimmer who has represented India in many international swimming competitions. He is good at breaststroke.
Wiki/Biography
Likith Selvaraj Prema aka Likith SP was born on Friday, August 14, 1998 in Bangalore, Karnataka, India (age 25; as of 2023). His zodiac sign is Leo. He started swimming when he was five years old.
Likith Selvaraj’s childhood photo (left)
He studied at Glenwood High School in Durban until 2016, where he began swimming training under the guidance of Graham Hill. Subsequently, he studied for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) at JAIN University in 2020 and a Master of Science (MSc) in Strategic Leadership and Design at the University of Indianapolis from August 2021 to June 2023.
Likith Selvaraj (second from right) while studying in South Africa
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′10″
Weight (approximately): 70kg
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
Body measurements (approximately): Chest 44″, Waist 30″, Biceps 14″
family
He comes from a Hindu family.
Parents and siblings
His mother’s name is Prema Mn. He has a sister named Charu.
Likith Selvaraj and his mother Prema Mn
wife and children
He is unmarried and has no children.
Relationships/Affairs
He is single.
religion
He believes in Hinduism.
Profession
swim
He started swimming while at school and later competed in various junior swimming championships.
Likith Selvaraj during swimming practice
In September 2017, he trained at a swimming training camp organized by the Sports Federation of India (SFI). He initially trained at Basavanagudi Aquatic Center (BAC) and later at Netakalapa Aquatic Center (NAC).
Likith Selvaraj during swimming practice
Likis initially represented Karnataka in various national competitions; however, he later started representing various services, especially the Indian Navy. In January 2019, he started training under Parth Varanasi.
Likith Selvaraj and his coach Parth Varanashi (right)
He also trained in South Africa and Austria at various times in his career. During his education in the United States, he also participated in NCAA Division 2 competitions. Subsequently, he participated in a number of international competitions, including finishing seventh in the 100-meter breaststroke final of the 19th Asian Games in 2023.
Likith Selvaraj during the 19th Asian Games in 2023
training schedule
Likis said in an interview that he trains 5 days a week, 4 hours a day. He also does different adventurous activities like surfing, webbing, yoga, skateboarding and acroyoga to improve flexibility and agility as breaststroke puts a lot of pressure on the hips and knees.
Likith Selvaraj (right) skateboarding during training
medal
gold
- 2011 25th Southern District Swimming Championships 50m and 200m Breaststroke
- 2012 39th National Youth Swimming Championships 200m Individual Medley
- 2013 State Youth Swimming Championships 100m Breaststroke
- 2014 National Senior Swimming Championships 50m and 200m Breaststroke
- 2015 41st National Youth Swimming Championships 50m Breaststroke
Likith Selvaraj (centre) after winning the gold medal at the 41st National Youth Swimming Championships in 2015
- 2015 42nd National Youth Swimming Championships 100m, 200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley
- 2018 72nd National Adult Swimming Championships 4X 100m Medley
Likith Selvaraj (centre) after winning the gold medal at the 72nd National Adult Swimming Championships in 2018
- 2019 India Kailuo Youth Games 50m freestyle, 50m and 100m breaststroke, 4×100m medley, 4×100m freestyle for the under-21 age group
- 2019 62nd Malaysian Swimming Open 100m Breaststroke
- 2019 13th South Asian Games 50m, 100m, 200m breaststroke and 4×100m individual medley
Likith Selvaraj after winning gold medal at South Asian Games 2019
- 2019 73rd National Adult Swimming Championships 200m Breaststroke
- 200m Breaststroke at Kelo Indian University Games 2020
- 2022 75th National Adult Swimming Championships 50m, 100m, 200m breaststroke, 4×100m medley relay
Likith Selvaraj (left) after winning the gold medal at the 75th National Adult Swimming Championships in 2022
- 50m, 100m, 200m breaststroke, 4×100m medley relay at the 36th National Games in 2022
Likith Selvaraj after winning the gold medal at the 36th National Games 2022
- 2023 76th National Adult Swimming Championships 50m and 100m Breaststroke
silver
- 2014 National Adult Swimming Championships 200m Medley
- 2016 70th National Adult Swimming Championships 200m Breaststroke, 400m Medley
- 2021 Uzbekistan Swimming Open 50m and 100m Breaststroke
bronze
- 2012 Universiade 50m and 100m Breaststroke
- 2016 South African National Level 3 Swimming Championships 100m Breaststroke for Under-18s
Likith Selvaraj (right) after winning bronze in the under-18 category at the 2016 South African National Level 3 Swimming Championships
- 2016 70th National Adult Swimming Championships 200m Medley
- 2019 10th Asian Age Group Championships 50m and 100m Breaststroke
- 2019 India Kailuo Youth Games Under-21 Group 200m Breaststroke
dispute
Cheating at All India University Games 2019
Likith participated in the All India Inter-University Games held from November 1 to 4, 2019 at Lovely Professional University (LPU), Jalandhar, Punjab. Allegedly, the time was recorded manually, rather than on an automated touch pad, and officials manipulated the time to declare local athletes as winners. After witnessing such rampant cheating, many swimmers from other states began protesting officials and taking to social media to complain about practices at events. Leakis also held up a poster on the starting line of the race that read:
I would rather fail with honor than win with cheating. Let us all swim fairly and refuse to cheat. ”
Likith Selvaraj protests at All India University Games 2019
The then Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju responded to the allegations by announcing an investigation into the incident.
Rigging at the Uzbekistan Swimming Open
In April 2021, Likis claimed that at the Uzbekistan Open Swimming Championships, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from April 13 to 17, 2021, officials manipulated the times of the 100-meter freestyle preliminaries and the 100-meter butterfly preliminaries in order to Helping local swimmers successfully complete the competition is a qualifying event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. During the 200-meter breaststroke event on the last day of competition, he did not jump into the pool but stood on the diving platform for more than two minutes in protest.
Abhinav Bindra’s letter to Likith Selvaraj after exposing rigging at Uzbekistan Swimming Open 2021
Speaking about the protests, he said:
I touched the notepad, stopped my time, and asked the officials if this was a new world record to show them that what they were doing was wrong. ”
Likis also claimed that local officials paid him bribes to keep quiet about the issues. Uzbek swimmers Murat Sagdullaev and Yulduz Kuchkarova also came to his aid when he struggled with mental health issues, Because he was called a liar due to the accusations; however, his parents and other players fully supported him.
Likith Selvaraj (far right) with Murat Sagdullaev (far left) and Yulduz Kuchkarova (second from right)
The International Swimming Federation (FINA) later investigated the allegations and found them to be true, subsequently removing the sport from Olympic qualifying. In August 2023, FINA also imposed a five-year ban on the organizers of the 2021 event. Leakis said the suspension is a victory for athletes who train hard, saying:
This is a vindication, a victory for athletes, and the first step in cleaning up the system because I’m sure a lot of this illegal behavior is happening elsewhere. When I look back, I’ve never regretted anything I’ve done, even though a lot of people disagreed with me and said I didn’t have to be impulsive. ”
This is a huge improvement for us athletes. I am relieved to know that the arbitration court made the best possible decision. Thank you @fina1908 https://t.co/pKjwvL5UYd
— Likith Prema (@likithsp98) July 12, 2021
prize
- Eklavya Award 2022 by the Government of Karnataka
Likith Selvaraj receives Eklavya Award 2022 from Government of Karnataka
Favorites
- Sports team: FC Barcelona
- Indian athlete: Mihar Singh
Facts/Trivia
- In 2016, he received sponsorship from the JSW Sports Excellence Program (SEP), which helped him train and provided him with funding for the diet and accessories he needed to swim. He later received sponsorship from GoSports Foundation and was included in the Rahul Dravid Athlete Mentorship Programme.
- During the initial lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020, he auctioned off the short “FIINA World Championships Carbon Flex VX” that he wore during the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. To help the families of those who work in the sports community.
Likith Selvaraj showcases his ‘FINA World Championships Carbon Flex VX’ short film, which he auctioned to help sports staff during the initial Covid-19 lockdown
- Likis said in an interview that his father was the person who influenced him the most and that he learned something from his father every day.
- He grew up eating a non-vegetarian diet; however, he turned vegetarian in 2019 and became a vegetarian in the early 2020s to increase his speed.
- He aspires to be a multi-sport athlete playing different adventure sports.
Likith Selvaraj doing handstand
- Likith is an AUST SWIM certified swimming coach.
- He is a wildlife enthusiast and has visited the famous American conservationist Paul Rosolie in the Amazon jungle.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education