It normally is a fight between Karnataka and Maharashtra at any of the national championships in Indian swimming. It will be no different at the 34th Junior National Aquatic Championships, beginning here on Thursday.
However, unlike in the sub-junior section, which is the traditional stronghold of Maharashtra, the event here is likely to witness a championship-winning performance from Karnataka.
Karnataka's hopes mainly rest on Sandeep N A (50 and 100 metres backstroke and freestyle) and Aaron D'Souza (400, 800, 1500M freestyle and 100 and 200M butterfly) in Group I. Siddanth Deshmukh (butterfly events), Siddarth M, Ashwin Menon and Poorna Chandra are also capable of making a splash in the same group.
In Group I girls, Karnataka are pretty well off with Pooja R Alva (butterfly and individual medley), Kshipra Mahajan (freestyle and 100M backstroke), Madhavi Giri, Jessica and Neeraja B in fray.
The main hopes for Karnataka in Group II would be Akshay Krishna, Aditya Roshan, Akash Roshan, Abhinav and Dhritiman Roy in the boys section and Surabhi, Nischala, Pravallika, Anvitha Shampur and Arhatha Magavi among girls.
Karnataka’s strong presence, however, will not stop Maharashtra from doing all they can to break the former’s dominance. "Karnataka did well in Group III and Group IV at Margao. So, we will do our best in what has been Karnataka's stronghold," Maharashtra coach Gokul Kamat said.
Khade, the cynosure
Maharashtra's trump card is Virdhawal Khade. The Kolhapur resident has been making rapid strides and establishing himself as one of the country's leading swimmers, though he is still in Group I. He became the first Indian to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics with a timing of 1: 52.41 in the 200M freestyle at the swimming Worlds in Melbourne earlier this year. Virdhawal will be swimming the 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800M freestyle events apart from the relays.
Apart from Virdhawal, Maharashtra’s hopes mainly rest on Krunal Bhosale (Group II) and Aditya Sangvekar (Group I). Lekha Kamat (Group I, butterfly, freestyle and breaststroke), Surabhi Tipre (Group II), Poorva Shetye (Group II) and Arti Ghorpade (Group I) are the top Maharashtra girls swimmers. Of them, the first three are National Games gold medallists.
With the event serving as selection trials for the Asian Age Group Championship in Jakarta next month, there is an added incentive for the swimmers to do well. Records too look likely with rain not really all that heavy.