The chances of the country’s top swimmers — Virdhawal Khade, Sandeep Sejwal, Aaron D’Souza and Saurabh Sangvekar, participating in the London Games have dimmed significantly.
According to Virendra Nanavati, a member of the technical wing of the world governing body, FINA, of the four, who achieved the Olympic ‘B’ qualification standard, only one could make it to London. “The picture will be clear in a day or two,” he said.
After their names were not included in the initial list announced by FINA, D’Souza and Sangvekar asked the sports ministry to cancel their air tickets to Spain, where they were supposed to go for advanced training.
“The swimmers are reluctant to go now,” said an official of the Sports Authority of India.
In all, there are 900 berths for London, and those who have achieved the ‘A’ qualification mark, have been included in the first list. The deadline for filling the remaining berths, around 300, is July 9.
Khade has qualified in 100m freestyle while D’Souza has made the grade in 200m freestyle. Sejwal qualified for both 100m and 200m breaststroke while Sangvekar is to feature in 1500m freestyle.
The FINA has announced a list of 439 swimmers from 50 countries as confirmed entries with the ‘A’ standard qualification, the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT). FINA will also finalise the relay teams — 16 per event.
Thereafter, countries without any qualified swimmers will be given a chance to field a maximum of one male and one female swimmer as part of the Universality Places.
{{/usCountry}}Thereafter, countries without any qualified swimmers will be given a chance to field a maximum of one male and one female swimmer as part of the Universality Places.
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