The Swimming Federation of India (SFI) will soon have a foreign coach. SFI secretary-general Virender Nanavati said the federation was finalising a foreign coach, though the details are not yet known.
It is learnt that the idea of having a foreign coach has been there for the last six months. Coaches from Australia and the United States have been on SFI's mind though it has yet to zero in on a candidate.
Sources say the Government was keen on a foreign coach in swimming like other sports disciplines. "We (SFI) have been talking to people, discussing their long-term contracts and all other modalities. But some of the people we approached were not ready for long-term commitment," the source said.
SFI is looking at having the foreign coach until the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi so that swimmers are better prepared.
"We have identified a couple of coaches from Australia, two or three from the US but then we have to finalise it in the next one month. If we delay, the coaches will look for better offers and abandon India. We have already lost one such top coach because of the delay in making the decision. It is learnt that this particular coach has left for Mexico," the source said.