Indian Swimmers can make a mark in World Swimming within 10 years

Bangalore, Sept 27 (UNI) German National Swimming Coach Olva Spahl said that there is ample opportunity for Indian Swimmers to make a mark in the World arena within next 10 years.

'' I think you (Indian Swimmers) have got a chance to reach the World level in the next 10 years, if you can make your swimmers carry on with their career'', he told nesmen here.

Spahl, who was here to conduct a five-day coaching camp for Coaches on behalf of Federation of Internationale De Acquatics (FINA) said some budding Indian swimmers badly needed encouragement to continue swimming as their career.

''You have got good athletes already, but they are still at the age of the juniors. The big challenge for India will be to spur them to continue their career for further five to seven years. If they finish their careers at 16 or 17 they can't reach the international standards. They will have to swim at least they are 24 or 25 years old.'' He said that a huge population might be posing problems in identifying talent and supporting it but achievements of Indian swimmers in Asian region was really praise worthy.

Stating that it would be a big challenge for the concerned to further boost the youngsters, Olva suggested giving importance in improving technique especially in the under water movements after start and turn. ''If you look at the competitions world wide the athletes are working under water for 50 metres. Here in India it's not popular to do so.'' He said that during the Clinic, in which about 50 Coaches attended, he stressed this point and spoke to National Swimming Coaches Pradeep Kumar and Nihar Amin. ''I think they are very educated and experienced and what they are doing in the training is a good thing, may be the problem is that what they are doing that with the children what is usually planned for the adults. That is the breaking point I think.'' Olva, from Colgne is working with the German Swimming Federation.

He said that holding Clinic together with Nationals was a very good idea because it gave him an idea to work on some key points to achieve international standards.

He said that during the clinic things about coordination of different swimming techniques, starts and turns among other things were discussed. Endurance training, training methods and planning of the season, about nutrition, behaviour in competitions were also discussed.

About facilities for swimmers in Germany, he said that long term plan includes basic push up training for eight to 12 years old and then deliver training for the next level. ''What we can offer our swimmers at 18 or 19 is the opportunity to go to the army, were they can stay and work as professional swimmers. We also have a foundation called Sports Aid, which gives money to our athletes every month who would have reached certain levels so that they can just concentrate on swimming and don't have to care about earning. I don't know if something like that exists in India, but the scholarships like this will help swimmers combine their studies and training for a further few years.'' ''We also have a very detailed doping system where we test our top athletes unannounced for 10 to 12 times during the training and competitions in a year. I think it is really necessary to do that so that everybody believes in the spirit of sports, otherwise sports will be dead''.

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