JOIN USFourty three swimmers have been shortlisted by SAI after considering their past performances with the help of former Asian Games silver medallist Khazan Singh, who is the government observer for the sport. The camp started at the Talkatora pool in New Delhi on June 19 but it is learnt that only six swimmers have joined so far.
However, SFI officials said they were unaware of the camp. “We haven’t received any letter from anybody. What is going on is an unofficial camp,” said a top SFI official while Karnataka Swimming Association (KSA) secretary TD Vijayaraghavan said they haven’t received any communication from SAI regarding the camp. “We didn’t get any letter from SAI. I don’t know if any of our swimmers are part of the camp,” he said.
“A total of 21 men and 22 women are in the probables list for the camp. I can’t confirm how many have turned up. Many of the top swimmers like Rehan Poncha, Virdhawal Khade, Sandeep Sejwal are now competing in Singapore. They are expected to join soon after returning home,” said SAI Executive Director (Teams) Dr PC Kashyap. “But if a swimmer wants to train under his personal coach in his home city then he is free to do that,” he added.
However, sources said the swimmers did not get any intimation from the State associations as SAI did not send any communication in this regard. Normally, SFI announces the list of swimmers, which is then approved by SAI. The SFI then informs the respective State associations, who direct the swimmers to attend the camp. It is learnt that the procedure was not followed this time.
SAI official Gopal Krishna said National coach Pradeep Kumar and coach Nihar Ameen were informed before preparing the probables’ list.
“The camp will go on till July 31 and then we will decide to continue here or to shift to some other place,” Krishna said, while not ruling out the possibility of shifting the camp to Bangalore.