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Karnataka made a sedate start to the 68th Senior National Aquatic Championship campaign while arch-rivals Maharashtra got off in resplendant fashion here on Wednesday.

Arvind M and Damini K Gowda, who are leading the depleted defending champion’s quest for a 24th straight overall championship, could only manage silver medals as the powerhouses of national swimming failed to muster even a single gold.

Maharashtra, on the other hand, pocketed four gold medals, giving a sound indication of things to come at this meet where Karnataka are facing one of their stiffest challenges in recent times.

Arvind finished second in the 100M backstroke to Services’ Madhu PS, who set a new national record with a timing of 57.95 seconds.

While Arvind clocked 59.02, Madhya Pradesh’s Rohit Imoliya captured the bronze in a timing of 59.75.

Damini, one of the talents to watch out for, also failed to hit the top gear as she ended up second in the women’s 100M butterfly and 100M backstroke races.

Other medal winners for Karnataka were Likith SP (bronze, 200M breaststroke), Malvika V (silver, 400M freestyle) and Vania Kapoor Achuthan (bronze, 100M backstroke).

Karnataka girls also won a silver in the 4x200M freestyle relay (9:12.42), behind Maharashtra (9:07.06) but ahead of Kerala (9:26.07).

Aaron D’Souza, who resides in Bangalore and has represented Karnataka before securing a job with the Railways, won the 100M butterfly gold in a timing of 55.81 seconds.

His Railways colleague Sharma SP Nair took silver while Bengal’s Supriya Mondal bagged bronze.

Results: Men: 100M backstroke: Madhu PS (SSCB) 57.95 (NR; Old: MB Balakrishnan, 58.30, 2010) 1; Arvind M (Kar) 59.02, 2; Rohit Imoliya (MP) 59.75, 3.

100M butterfly: Aaron D’Souza (RSPB) 55.81 seconds, 1; Sharma SP Nair (RSPB) 56.57, 2; Supriya Mondal (Ben) 56.64, 3.

200M breaststroke: Sandeep Sejwal (RSPB) 2:16.10, 1; Anoop Augastin (RSPB) 2:19.22, 2; Likhit SP  (Kar) 2:22.82, 3.

400M freestyle: Saurabh Sangvekar (Mah) 3:56.17 (NR; Old: Sajan Prakash, 3:58.51, 2013) 1; Sajan Prakash (RSPB) 3:56.78, 2; Anand AS (Ker) 4:07.95, 3.

4x200M freestyle relay: RSPB (7:56.30) 1; Gujarat (7:56.62) 2; SSCB (8:03.27) 3.

Women: 100M butterfly: Jyotsana Pansare (Mah) 1:04.58, 1; Damini K Gowda (Kar) 1:05.61, 2; VKR Meenakshi (TN) 1:05.78, 3.

200M breaststroke: Harleen Kaur (Pun) 2:47.91, 1; Rutuja Udeshi (Mah) 2:49.95, 2; Poorva Shetty (Mah) 2:51.92, 3.

400M freestyle: Monique Gandhi (Mah) 4:27.86, 1; Malvika V (Kar) 4:30.21, 2; Richa Mishra (Police) 4:32.73, 3.

100M backstroke: Maana Patel (Guj) 1:05.90, 1; Damini K Gowda (Kar) 1:07.93, 2; Vania Kapoor Achutan (Kar) 1:08.60, 3.

4x200M freestyle relay: Maharashtra (9:07.06) 1; Karnataka (9:12.42) 2; Kerala (9:26.07) 3.