The Hindu : Sport / Swimming : Three to train in Australia

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Thursday, Jan 31, 2008
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Three to train in Australia

BANGALORE: Three swimmers Virdhwal Khade, Sandeep Sejwal and Shikha Tandon, accompanied by their coach Nihar Ameen, are set to leave for Australia on Friday for a three-month training.

Khade is the lone Indian qualifier for the Beijing Olympics while breaststroke ace Sandeep Sejwal and Shikha Tandon are vying for a berth.

They will train at the South Port Swim School in Brisbane.

Besides training, their stint in Australia would also give them an opportunity to participate in a series of meets, which includes Telstra Australian Open at Sydney in March, Australian age-group championship at Brisbane in April and Telstra Grand Prix at Canberra again in April.

“It should be a valuable outing for us in Australia while Virdhwal’s trip is funded by the Union Government, we expect a similar support for Sejwal and Shikha,” said Nihar Ameen to The Hindu.

After finishing his training in Australia, Khade is expected to head for the U.S. to fine-tune his preparations.

He will attend advanced coaching at the elite Race Club in Flordia, run by former Olympic champions Gary Hall Jr. and his father.

The sprint expert Mike Bottom will also train the 16-year-old Indian prodigy, who is regarded as the fastest in his age-group in the World. — Special Correspondent

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