Veteran Australian coach Bernie Mulroy feels facilities available to Indian swimmers are quite good but added that planning was the key to being successful at the international arena.

“I have seen some good things and the organisation here. I was pleasantly surprised at the levels of professionalism. The coaches are good and there is good management support. I find that the water in the pools here is better than some Australian ones. Gym facilities are also good but good planning is needed,” Mulroy, who has coached several Olympics swimmers and also been with the Australian Institute of Sports, said. Indian swimmers Nisha Millet and Rehan Poncha have had training stints under Mulroy in Perth in the past.

Asked where Indians stood when compared to Australian swimmers, Mulroy said: “We can’t really draw comparisons between Indian and Australian swimmers. I found that Nisha and Rehan were better than some Australians, and there were others who were better than them.”

The Aussie is conducting a coaching course as part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Solidarity Programme for coaches at the Sports Authority of India Southern Centre on the outskirts of the city. The programme began on November 18 and will end on Sunday.

“At the Solidarity Programme, we are discussing various subjects including club structure, programmes and seasonal planning. The coaches attending the programme are interactive and things are going well,” he said. Karnataka Swimming Association secretary TD Vijayaraghavan added: “The course is being held in India after about 20 years. The Swimming Federation of India has been trying to get this course to India for a long time. Mulroy was recommended for the programme by FINA (the world body) and we are very fortunate that he is visiting Bangalore.” Mulroy stressed on the need to swim against tougher opposition in order to be more competitive at the international level.

“Personally, I feel that if there can be heated pools, it would be good. That is the next level. The kids here are tough but having a heated pool would be beneficial,” Mulroy said.