800 swimmers to participate in 60th senior championship

Bangalore, Sep 18 (UNI) The LIC 60th Senior National Aquatic Championship will get underway here from September 21 with the participation of about 800 swimmers of national and international repute, sans Olympian Shikha Tandon, recovering from a shoulder injury suffered during practice in June last.

Coach Nihar Amin told UNI that Arjuna awardee Shikha, holding five meet records, was adviced three months rest by doctors.

However, since nine weeks had passed since she sustained the injury, she had started practicing, he said, adding that he was positive about her participation in the Asian Games in Doha in December.

Talking to newspersons here, tournament Organising Secretary T D Vijayaraghavan said that while the Swimming and Water Polo events would be held in Basavanagudi Swimming Association Pool, Diving events would be held in Jayanagar Swimming Pool. The event was being held in the city after a gap of eight years.

Defending Champions and hosts Karnataka would be fielding a strong contingent of 55 players (10 men and 13 women swimmers, 4 men and 2 women divers and 13 men and 13 women Water Polo players).

Mr Vijayaraghavan said that during the championship, 'FINA Coaches Clinic' would be held for all the Coaches nominated by the All India Swimming Federation to popularise the sport. Coaches from South Asian Countries, including Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh and Pakistan, besides India, would participate in the camp, to be conducted by German National Coach Olav Spahl from September 21-25.

National Coach Pradeep Kumar, who was also present, said the championship would run as selection trials for picking the Indian team for the Asian Games. The Selection Committee would meet on September 25 after the championship to select the Indian team.

UNI MSP GD DH KN1749