Virdhawal Khade sinks without a trace

Beijing, Aug 10 (UNI) On a day when US's Michael Phelps was setting the pool alight, Indian teenage swimmer Virdhawal Khade sank without a trace in the 200m free style heat at the Olympic aquatic Centre here today.

The 17-year-old Khade is a part of the four member Indian swimming team who are here ostensibly to get the International exposure but in the process are getting exposed and doing no good to the country's image.

The Kolhapur-born swimmer was in heat four in which eight swimmers took part and the Indian finished seventh and saving him from the ignominy of finishing the last was another hapless swimmer from Luxemberg Raphel Stacchiotti.

Khade, who had broken three national records in the World Youth Swimming Championships in Mexico recently, failed to improve or equal his own timing of 1:51.65 as he clocked 1:51.86.

The leader of the heat Norway's Gard Kvale timed 1:48.73.

Khade was slow in taking-off and timed 25.76 to clear first 50m, his reaction timed slowed further as he took another 28.19 second to cross 100m (53.95) and the next 50m took his 28.81 sec (1:22.76) and he crossed 200m with an efforts of 29.10 secs which aggregated his time to 1:51.86.

His reaction time was recorded as 0.75.

Khade will be taking part in 100m free style and 50m free style also.

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