The Hindu : Sport / Swimming : Sub-junior National from today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

Sport

Sport - Swimming

Sub-junior National from today

Sports Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Karnataka and Maharashtra are expected to dominate the proceedings when the 22nd National sub-junior aquatics championship gets underway at the Water Works swimming pool here on Thursday.

N.Venkiteswaran will spearhead the challenge of the Karnataka that has come with a 45-member strong team to defend the title it won in Nasik last year. Aditya Roshan, V.Vaibhav and Madhavi Giri are some of the prominent swimmers from Karnataka who will be seen in action during the four-day meet.

Maharashtra will be counting on Saurav Sangvekar and Gowri Desai to deliver the goods in swimming. But it will be in diving, which will see a total dominance of Maharasthra. Shashank Bhatkay, Monish Patel, Krishna M.Naik, Hrithik Sriram and Poonam Shah are the leading divers in the country and they will make their presence felt for Maharashtra that won the overall title last year.

Host Kerala's performance in the age group competitions of late has been pathetic. The team has no high hopes and one or two minor placings will be a big achievement.

Nearly 400 swimmers, from 28 affiliated units of the Swimming Federation of India, are expected to take part in the meet. For sub-juniors, swimming competitions will be held in 40 events in two categories — Group III (11 and 12 years of age) and Group IV (nine and 10 years of age) — in both sections respectively.

However, the diving competitions will be held in Group I (16, 17 and 18 years), Group II (14 and 14 years) and Group III (12 and 13 years) categories respectively in both sections. In diving, competitions will be held in 1-metre springboard, 3m spring board and 10m high board respectively.

The Indian team for the Asian age group diving championships will be chosen from this meet. The Kerala Aquatics Association is holding the meet for the third time. However, it is staging a National meet after a gap of nine years and the Water Works swimming pool, the venue has been spruced up for the occasion.

The Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, will inaugurate the four-day event.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport