After the sub-junior and junior Nationals at Margao and Bhopal this year were hampered by rain, the possibility of this event having to go through the same fate is very much a possibility. However, with the pool and water being good, it would not stop the top swimmers from going for gold.
One of the main reasons Karnataka's Shikha Tandon, Police's Richa Mishra in the women's section and Police's Arjun Muralidharan, the defending men's individual champion, and Delhi's Sandeep Sejwal would try their best is because this National championship is one of the recognised events to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The event is also likely to see defending champions Karnataka dominate and possibly retain their overall title. Tandon is the best bet for the State and she would be taking part in five events, which include freestyle, backstroke and butterfly. She did not take part in the 60th senior Nationals in Bangalore last year due to an injury and would be looking to make up for it with a good show here.
The other top names to look out for in the women's section would be last year's individual women's champion Mishra, who swims the individual medley and freestyle events. Karnataka's Pooja R Alva is here and could pose a threat to the seniors.
Khade absent
Undoubtedly, the missing star of the show in the men's section is Maharashtra's Virdhawal Khade, who is not taking part owing to his 10th standard exams. In this scenario, Muralidharan would perhaps have an easier run. He had been training under Shaun Kelly in Manchester and that stint would hold Muralidharan in good stead.
In the men's section, one needs to look out for in in Karnataka's Rehan Poncha, Rohit Havaldar and Aaron D'Souza, all very competitive swimmers and capable of swelling Karnataka's medals tally. Delhi's Sandeep Sejwal and Praveen Tokas are also in good nick and could give the bigger names a run for their money.
In the water polo events, it is difficult to say who could possibly emerge on top with the competition being so tight among the men. The field comprises defending champions Railways, Services, Police, Maharashtra, Kerala, West Bengal and others. The first three teams are very strong indeed but Karnataka have a small chance as they have some good players in the team.
The State women's team has a better chance as the field is more open. There are several junior players in the team but are capable of grabbing a medal. For a medal, the State women would have to compete with the likes of Police, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal , all tough outfits.
In diving, Karnataka’s medal prospects rests with Karishma Mohite in the women's section. But otherwise it will be dominated by Services and Railways divers in the men's and women's sections.  In the diving events, the wind here could pose a slight problem for the divers.