Sport
Teenage swimmer eyes Olympic berth

Ahmedabad, July 28 (PTI): A teenage swimmer from Ahmedabad will try to conquer three seas across the world in the coming months as he attempts to qualify for the marathon event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"My aim is to qualify for the 10-kilometre marathon event for men at the Olympics in Beijing next year," said 17-year-old, Sufyan Sheikh, who has a penchant for long-distance swimming.

In order to qualify for the Olympics, Sufyan is planning to taking part in at least three events organised by FINA later this year.

A top-three finish in one of those events will make Sufyan a contender for a Beijing berth.

"I can then approach FINA, who in turn will ask the Swimming Federation of India (SFI) to conduct a test," he said, adding that once he clears the SFI test he would be able to represent the country.

First up for Sufyan, who took to water at a tender age of three, is the FINA marathon event in Croatia next month.

"Then I will be participating in the 10km event organised in Singapore and then proceed for a similar event in Repulse Bay, Hong Kong, in October," he said.