Ahmedabad: Two-time Olympians Sajan Prakash and Srihari Nataraj will spearhead India’s challenge against the continent’s creme de la creme at the 11th Asian Aquatics Championships, beginning here on Sunday.
A total of 40 swimmers, including 20 men and 20 women, will compete at the newly-built state-of-the-art Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Naranpura here.
The Indian contingent has been based in Naranpura over the past month for the national coaching camp.
Optimistic about India’s chances in the event, which is historically dominated by the Chinese swimmers, India Head Coach Nihar Ameen said, “We had very good preparations with the entire contingent training together here at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex. It is a fantastic facility and it’s a very fast pool, so I am quite confident our swimmers will do well here.”
He further touted Sajan, Srihari, and Rohit B Benedicton to medal in their respective events. Ameen said, “We should win at least 3-4 medals. If Sajan swims as fast as he did in the 200m butterfly in the Senior Nationals, he is sure to win a medal and same goes with Srihari, who will be swimming 100m and 200m backstroke.
Rohit also stands a chance to win a medal in the 200m freestyle. In all, we will witness some very exciting races. Among the women, Dhinidhi, Bhavya, Nina Venkatesh, and Soubrity Mondal are all clocking good times. We will have relay teams as well in the women’s categories, and we are optimistic of a good show.”
A total of 10 water polo teams in the men’s category and eight water polo teams in the women’s category will be vying to book their berth for the Asian Games next year to be held in Nagoya, Japan. In diving, 16 countries will participate, while artistic swimming has entries from 10 countries, and swimming will have a total of 21 countries participating.
The Opening Ceremony, commencing at 5 PM tomorrow, will be graced by Chief Guest Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat along with Harsh Sanghavi, Minister of Home, Youth & Sports, Government of Gujarat, Farid Fattahian, Executive Director, Asia Aquatics, RN Jayprakash, President, Swimming Federation of India, Virendra Nanavati, Sr. Vice President, Asia Aquatics, Monal Choksi, Secretary General, Swimming Federation of India and Ashwini Kumar, Principal Secretary, Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities Department, Government of Gujarat.
Indian Swimming Contingent:
Men: S Dhanush, Shoan Ganguly, Jashua Thomas, Aneesh Gowda, Rohit B Benedicton, Advait Page, Sajan Prakash, Bikram Changmai, Heer Gitesh Shah, MS Yadesh Babu, Vidith S Shankar, Kushagra Rawat, Jananjoy Jyoti Hazarika, Akash Mani, Nithik Nathella, Manikantha L, Vinayak V, Likith SP, Rishabh Anupam Das, Srihari Nataraj.
Women: Thanya S, Shristi Upadhaya, Vihitha Nayana, Nina Venkatesh, Manavi Varma, Vritti Agarwal, Roshini B, Dhinidhi Desinghu, Bhavya Sachdeva, Astha Chodhury, Shreenithi Natesan, Naisha, Aditi Satish Hegde, Saanvi Deshwal, Sanjana Prabhugaonkar, Rujula S, Soubrity Mondal, M Rithvika, Avantika Chavan, Harshitha Jayaram.
