Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

It’s plunge time for youngsters

— PHOTO: CH. VIJAYA BHASKAR

Learners practise swimming in Sir Vizzi Municipal Corporation pool at Gandhinagar in Vijayawada on Wednesday.

VIJAYAWADA: Come summer, the Sir Vizzi municipal corporation swimming pool complex at Gandhinagar comes to life with hundreds of children taking a plunge into the blue waters. This year too, over 400 children of all age groups have enrolled for the three-week long camp that started on May 8.

Considered one of the best in south India, the Sir Vizzi complex is equipped with three pools, including one for toddlers. It has produced many national swimmers, for which credit goes to senior coach Sambasiva Rao, who was instrumental in identifying and nurturing many talented swimmers.

“The summer camp is the right place to spot natural talent. The month-long interaction of the boys and girls will enable us to identify the precocious talent. But, unfortunately, not many return to the pool once schools and colleges reopen. This has been the curse of the sport,” laments Mr. Rao.

The sprawling complex turns into a beehive of activity from 6 a.m. with dozens of parents with their wards descending to watch their dear ones learning the nuances of the sport, considered the mother of all sports.

With swim accessories such as head gear, sunglasses, bright tight-fit swim suits decorating the youngsters, the complex wears a festive look.

However, Mr. Sambasiva Rao is a worried man as he is more concerned about the safety of the children. “Though swimming is the best sport for the overall development of human body, it is equally dangerous. It is getting difficult to monitor all the 400-odd swimmers splashing in the three pools and we want the parents to cooperate with us by keeping a watch on the children both inside and outside the pool,” he says.

Mr. Sambasiva Rao also feels the need for more coaches for the effective conduct of the camp. “Along with me we have two coaches and two senior swimmers to monitor the camp, but this is insufficient,” he says.

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