SFI gets SAI nod to conduct Asiad camp in Bangalore

The camp will be suspended on September 4 for about a week as the senior nationals are slated in Bangalore from September 5 to 9. After a few days break, the swimmers will reassemble at the SAI South Centre for the final trials. The SFI will not be sending a team for the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in order to concentrate for the Bangkok Asiad.

CAMP IN FULL SWING: With most of the 39 selected members — 18 boys and 21 girls reporting at the Talkatora Pool, the camp for the Asia-Pasific meet, to be held in Selangor (Malaysia) from August 7 to 9, has entered its second week and was in full swing. A few swimmers, who failed to turn up, have been training either separately, as an official put it, or are thinking of opting out because the Sports Ministry has not cleared the trip so far. In case, the ministry does not approve, each swimmer will have to foot approximately Rs. 39,000 for the trip.

Some of the parents expressed anguish over the delay in government’s clearance. But the officials were hopeful that it will come through in the next couple of days.

From this year onwards the Asia-Pacific meet will confine itself to just four categories — Open, Group I, II and III. Until a couple of years ago there were six categories which helped more participation. Now the swimmers below the age group of 11 are not eligible.

According to the coaches, India can hope to increase the number of medals from 18 11 diving and 7 swimming last time to at least 25 this time. The coaches are pinning their hope more on the divers than the swimmers. The absence of J. Abhjijit has really spoilt the chances of a couple of more medals but the coaches hoped that S.H. Hakimuddin and Elvis Ali Hazarika will put extra efforts to make up for the loss.

Among the girls, Karnataka’s Nisha Millet and Tamil Nadu’s Mayur Kumar are the bright prospects. But a new entrant from Madhya Pradesh, Shruti Jhanwar is considered a potential medal winner.

Meanwhile, the SAI has appointed K.V. Sharma as the national coach. Some time ago, there was some controversy over his appointment as the national coach though the federation had named him.

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