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Sajan, Shivani get Rio nod

Last Updated 05 July 2016, 18:58 IST

The Swimming Federation of India (SFI), on Tuesday, announced Sajan Prakash and Shivani Katariya as India’s representatives at the Rio Olympics.

With the Indian swimmers having failed to clock the 'A' qualifying standard for the Games, it was by virtue of universality that the selection committee picked the duo. Sajan will be participating in the 200M butterfly, while Shivani will compete in 200M freestyle.

“We waited till July 3 and we were hopeful that our swimmers would clock the ‘A’ standard for the Games. But unfortunately, that was not the case,” said Kamlesh Nanavati, the secretary general of SFI.

“So the international federation (FINA) asked us to nominate a male and a female swimmer for the Games. And the selection committee has decided on Sajan and Shivani,” he added.

The qualification rule states that if no swimmer form a country achieves the ‘A’ standard, the federation can enter a maximum of one male and one female swimmer under the universality quota, provided that those swimmers have participated at the 2015 FINA World Championships.

While Shivani was the only Indian female swimmer to participate at the 2015 Worlds, Sajan was chosen from a bunch of swimmers that included Sandeep Sejwal, Veerdhaval Khade – both Asiad medallists – and Saurabh Sangvekar.

“It was a difficult task, there’s no doubt about it. But if you look at the performances of the five swimmers, Sajan’s timings have improved over the course of this season.  So we think it is fair to send Sajan for the Games,” explained Nanavati.

Sajan was the first Indian to go under the two-minute mark in the 200M butterfly event at the Hong Kong Swimming Circuit Championships with the Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre trainee clocking 1:59.27.

“Sajan has been in good shape and to go under two minutes in 200M fly would go a long way in boosting his confidence ahead of the Games,” said Pradeep Kumar, who was named the coach for the Indian duo travelling to Rio.

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(Published 05 July 2016, 18:58 IST)

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