Avani Dave finds it 'Badi Mushkil', finishes at bottom

Melbourne, Mar 19 (UNI) Avani Kardam Dave brought a touch of Bollywood to the Commonwealth Games but that was all she could do as the Indian teenager finished at the bottom of the synchronised swimming competition of the Commonwealth Games here today.

The 15-year-old, who chose to perform her free routine to the popular Hindi song ''Badi Mushkil'' from the movie 'Lajja', managed only 23.667 points in her solo performance.

Canadian Marie Pier Boudreau topped the pool with 46.833 points, followed by Briton Jenna Randall (42.667) and local favourite Irena Olevsky (42.000).

Country's only synchronised swimmer, Avani took up the event just four months ago and practised in an outdoor pool in Mumbai.

With no underwater speaker available, her Canadian coach Leslie Sproule used to keep rhythm by beating a spoon against the pool's railings.

Interestingly, she was not alone in chosing a movie song.

South African Shannon Crowder (38.000) opted for the soundtrack of ''The Mask of Zorro'' to synchronise her swimming but that too failed to woo the judges as she came sixth, just ahead of her Indian rival.

Solo: 1. Marie Pier Boudreau (Canada) 46.833 points 2. Jenna Randall (England) 42.667 3. Irena Olevsky (Australia) 42.000 4. Lisa Daniels (New Zealand) 41.167 5. Shareen Png (Malaysia) 39.667 6. Shannon Crowder (South Africa,) 38.000 7. Avani Kardam Dave (India) 23.667 UNI HSB AY DH PM1513