Beating the heat at SAI pools

NEW DELHI, May 6: Come summer, it's time to take a dip or two at the Capital's swimming pools to beat the heat. While the haves of Delhi ...

NEW DELHI, May 6: Come summer, it’s time to take a dip or two at the Capital’s swimming pools to beat the heat. While the haves of Delhi flock to the star hotels and numerous elite clubs that dot the city, the students and the lesser mortals make a beeline to the Sports Authority of India (SAI)-controlled pools at the National Stadium and the Talkatora Pool.

These two pools, which already have their regular members on a round-the-year basis, will be thrown open to the public with the SAI’s two summer coaching camps starting between May 17 and June 3 and between June 8 and June 29, for a two-hour duration. Though SAI conducts several other coaching camps during summer in disciplines like judo, table tennis, badminton, hockey and skating, the most sought after disciplines seem to be swimming and cricket. In fact, swimming takes the pride of place ahead of cricket during the period.

And this year will be no different. The National Stadium pool got a facelift and the water has been clorinated to cope with the summer rush. Though some complained about the water, they were, by and large, happy that the filtration plant was working and they did not foresee any problem. All life-guards are also in place. Parents along with their children thronged the two venues for obtaining forms — available at Rs. 10 each — to get their wards admitted to the various camps. Understandably, swimming had more takers than others in spite of a steep fee of Rs. 1,500 per person, per camp! Though there are more and more people coming in for admission, the pools cannot accommodate them all.

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Hence, the authorities will be conducting trials in order to weed out some so as to avoid the embarrassment. The trials begin tomorrow. During the camp, to be held in the morning hours, lessons will be imparted in coaching as it is essentially for the novices. But parents are a little wary of the fee as they consider the amount (Rs. 1,500) is too high for a period of 21-day camp. Moreover, they feel that in comparison with other disciplines, the fee for swimming was on a higher side.

When contacted, National Stadium administrator Manmeet Singh Goindi admitted that some parents had complained about the swimming fee. He said that he had already contacted the higher-ups for a review and was hopeful that a positive response would emerge.

Similarly, IG Stadium and the JN Stadium also have their share of campers. At these venues, the aspirant tennis, badminton players and cricketers throng besides some wanting to practice table tennis. Judo and skating have very few takers. The administrators are, however, hopeful that in the coming days there may be more students for these disciplines as well.

The hockey trainees at the National Stadium will be, to begin with, trained on grass for the first 10 days before they get a feel of the turf. Like a couple of other disciplines, the number of students for this one seems to be far less. This is despite a low fee of Rs. 100. In other words, it also tells the tale of the state of the discipline, once considered the national game.