Record number of swimmers cleared

The Swimming Federation of India had asked for a sum of Rs 39,000 from the individual members selected for the meet. But now with government according sanction for 32, they will only have to shell out nearly half the amount demanded initially. But the rest of the squad which will be making it to Kuala Lumpur will have to pay the amount in full. But in most cases, particularly those employed with government agencies, the state government’s sportsdirectorates are expected to meet the cost.

For the first time, the Sports Ministry has cleared more female members, numbering 20. Mithoo Barua of the Railways, who failed to clock the prescribed timing in Group I — the second placed timing of the last meet — was cleared at no cost to government. But her employers, Railways, are expected to foot her cost. In comparison, however, only nine male members have been cleared at government cost while another nine at no cost to government.

Two of the members, Mamoni Mondal and Surjit Ganguli (the former cleared by government) may not, however, be making the trip as they have failed to report for the camp.

In the last meet in Taiwan, the Indian swimmers had bagged seven medals while the divers 11. This time, too, the coaches are expecting more medals from the divers.

The team (At government’s cost)

Men: Sandeep Kakkar (Del), Elvis Ali Hazarika (Pol), Bhowsahib Dighe (Rly), Gopi Malpaddi (Mah), Rakesh Pandey (Rly), Viraj Patil Mah), VinodKumar Singh (UP), Madan Jawlakar (Mah) and Mrinal Raikar.
Women: Tashina Singh (Kar), Nisha Madgavkar (Goa), Mayur Kumar (TN), Nisha Millet (Kar), Nisha Mohite (Kar), Shruti Mukundan (TN), Shruti Arun Kumar (TN), Malvika Nityanandan (Guj), Shruti Jhawar (MP), Richa Mishra (Del), Sumi Cyriac (Ker), Rajeshwari Chakraborty (WB), Ishani Ghosh (Rly), Shweta Gogtay (MP), Annika Madgavkar (Goa), Suparna Paul (WB), Ayesha Madgavkar (Goa), Mamoni Mandal (WB), Shruti Srivastava (MP), Taniya Ganguli (WB).
Coaches: K.K. Mukundan (Rly) and M.R. Mohite (Kar) — both swimming, Ashok Sharma (Rly) — diving.

At no cost to government

Men: Senthil Kumar (Pol), Surjit Ganguli (Rly), Deepak Kumar (Pol), Snehashish Mukherjee (WB), Sudip Chatterjee (WB), Hakimuddin S.H. (Pol), M. Satish Kumar (Pol), Kehar Singh (Pol), I. Shivananal Singh (Guj).
Woman: Mithoo Barua (Rly).
Officials and coaches: Rakesh Gupta (Manager), S. Rajiv (Referee), Chandra Shekhar and Brijkant (bothswimming), Ramesh Vyas (diving) and Baljit Singh Gill (chief-de-mission).

One lady manager has also been cleared at no cost to government.