The Indian swimming camp will be held at the Velachery swimming pool complex in Chennai from Monday, ending all suspense about the venue.
The camp was originally scheduled to be held in Bangalore at the Sports Authority of India but non-availability of rooms in the SAI hostel forced the Swimming Federation of India to switch the camp to a different venue.
Month-long camp
The camp will go on for a month and is in preparation for the Japan Open in Tokyo (August 21 to 23), Asian Age Group Swimming Championship in Jakarta (August 26 to 30) and the South Asian Federation Swimming Championship in Islamabad (September 1 to 9).
“The hostel at SAI, Bangalore, was full since a lot of camps are being held now. So, the camp was shifted to Chennai. The campers will be staying in the hostel at the pool complex,” said National coach Pradeep Kumar.
“We do not have much time before the Asian Age Group meet begins. We will be doing a lot of speedwork at the camp. The competition will be tough. That is why the Swimming Federation of India decided to send 17 of the best swimmers to Jakarta,” Kumar added.
“Those who are going to Jakarta have been doing last year’s medal-winning timings. So getting medals is a possibility.”
The Islamabad event will have two categories — below 14 and above 14.
“Many of the juniors in the above 14 category are also seniors. So some of them will not go to Islamabad,” Kumar said.
The Japan Open is a qualifying event for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Asian Age Group meet is also a qualifying event.