The Hindu : Sport / Swimming : Two U.S.-based swimmers for Asiad

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Wednesday, Sep 27, 2006
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Two U.S.-based swimmers for Asiad

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The Swimming Federation of India (SFI) sprang a surprise on Tuesday by including two US-based athletes in the six-member probables list for the Asian Games to be held in Doha later this year.

According to SFI Secretary General Virendra Nanavati, Ankur Poseria and Neelasha Ghosh were included because the SFI believes that the duo has the credentials and the potential to do well at the Asian Games.

"Poseria has been training in Los Angeles with David Salo, a world-class coach, while Neelasha is a member of the Stanford varsity squad. Both took part in the US Open meet in August and recorded good times," he said.

Neelasha clocked 1:03.02s in 100m butterfly, which is just outside the qualifying time of 1:03.08 and in the 50m freestyle, she recorded 26.74s, again pretty close to the QT of 26.60s. Poseria clocked 55.68s in the 100m butterfly against the QT of 55.61s.

Personal request

"During my visit to the US for the World Masters meet, I spoke to them personally and their coaches as well. They will continue to train in the US and join the team before it leaves for Doha," Mr. Nanavati added.

The other members in the squad are Arjun Muralidharan, Veerdhawal Khade, Rehan Poncha and Shikha Tandon.

On the inclusion of Shikha Tandon, who opted out of the SAF Games and senior Nationals as she had undergone shoulder surgery recently, Mr. Nanavati said that she was on course to be fully fit for the Asian Games.

"She has already resumed training and we want her to clock the qualifying time by Nov. 15. The coach will monitor everybody and will later decide the final team, depending on the progress," he said.

Meanwhile, the SFI is planning to send the squad abroad for training.

"We are exploring the possibility of training either in Germany or Mexico and we are awaiting certain formalities and arrangements in this regard," said National coach S. Pradeep Kumar.

"We hope this will materialise before Oct. 9 when we plan to start the camp here at SAI (South) Centre. In that case, the team will proceed to its overseas training base and later go to Doha," he added.

In view of the crowded schedule, which includes the World championships (2007), Commonwealth Youth Games (2008) and Commonwealth Games (2010), the SFI has named 32 probables for the long-term camp.

Mr. Nanavati said that the SFI plans to get a coach from Australia for water polo and diving. "A foreign coach for swimming at this stage is not possible because if we have to get a coach, he has to be really world-class and that comes with a price. In any case, our National coach has been doing a good job and he will continue to guide our swimmers," he added.

The probables:

For Asiad: Men: Ankur Poseria, Arjun Muralidharan, Rehan Poncha and Veerdhawal Khade. Women: Neelasha Ghosh and Shikha Tandon.

For long-term camp: Men: Mandar Divase, Arjun Muralidharan, Amar Muralidhran and Rohit Kumar (Police), Sandeep Sejwal and Praveen Tokas (Delhi), Rohit R. Hawaldar, Aaron D'Souza, N.A. Sandeep, Aniketh D'Souza, Rehan Poncha, Srinand Srinivas, J.P. Arjun and V. Abhishek (Karnataka) and Veerdhawal Khade (Maharashtra). Women: Charu Misra, Richa Misra (Police), Shikha Tandon , Pooja R. Alva, M. Kshipra, V. Tejaswini, B. Neeraja, Madhavi Giri and Jessica Bole (Karnataka), M.S. Divya (AP), Fariha Zaman (Assam), Arpana Magdum, Lekha Kamath, Aarthi Ghorpade (Maharashtra), M. Mini (Kerala) and Parita Pakreh (Gujarat).

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