The State swimmers were placed behind defending champions Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu at the Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre in Bangalore last year.
None of the states will have a clear advantage this time with the cream of last year’s crop having graduated to the Junior section (Group I and II). “We are better prepared this time. Many of the last year’s top swimmers have graduated to Junior level. So I think none of the teams will have the edge,” said Karnataka coach-cum-manager MS Bhushan.
Karnataka’s hopes rest with Damini K Gowda, who won four gold medals in the State meet and has been a consistent performer in the National age-group categories. The 12-year-old Damini will be competing in the 50M freestyle, 50 and 100 backstroke and 50 butterfly apart from the relays in Group III.
Besides Damini, Sanjeev R (Group III boys’ 50 and 100 free), S Siva (Group III boys’ 200 free, 200IM, 100 backstroke), Sri Hari (Group IV boys’ 100 free, 50 backstroke, 50 fly, 200IM), Shraddha S (Group III girls’ 200 free, 200 IM, 50 breaststroke) and S Thanuja (Group IV girls’ 50 and 100 free, 50 fly, 200IM) will be the medal prospects for the State.
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