The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : Khade below par

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Monday, Aug 11, 2008
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Sport - Olympic Games

Khade below par

BEIJING: The 16-year-old Indian swimming sensation, Virdhawal Khade, had a taste of competition in the Olympics at the Water Cube as he finished seventh with a time of 1:51.86, more than three seconds behind the winner, in the fourth heat of the men’s 200-metre freestyle here on Sunday.

Drawn in the eighth lane, Khade had a strong start to be placed fourth at the end of the first lap, but slipped to sixth after the second lap, and could just about keep ahead of Raphael Stacchiotti of Luxembourg, who was swimming at the other extreme, in the first lane.

He was perhaps disappointed that he could not reach even his best of 1:50.35 that he had recently achieved in the World Youth Meet in Monterry, Mexico. He has the 50 and 100 metres freestyle events still lined up to get further taste of world standards, so that he can go back to the training pool with renewed intensity.

“This was the best he could in the given circumstances. He was absolutely relaxed and gave his best. He can’t be coming up with his personal best every time. He has been doing that regularly. His focus is on the 50 metres and he has a better chance there,” said coach Nihar Ameen.

In rowing, Devinder Kumar Khandwal and Manjeet Singh finished fifth in the light-weight men’s double sculls event with a timing of 6 minutes 37.13 seconds. The two will have a further chance in the repecharge, while the top two teams from the race made it to the semifinals. In sailing, India’s lone representative, Nachhatar Singh Johal finished 23rd in the Finn race-3, and 24th in the Finn race-4, among 26. — Special Correspondent

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