Ahmedabad: A private club’s pool in Ahmedabad has invited national swimmers who were denied help by the Maharashtra government for their trials ahead of the upcoming National Aquatic Championship.
After getting no help for the reopening of swimming pools for practice, a disappointed Swimming Association of Maharashtra (SWAM) decided to hold trials for the championship at the Savvy Swaraj Sports Club of Ahmedabad.
The privately-run Ahmedabad club invited the national swimmers after the Maharashtra government refused to reopen swimming pools due to the pandemic.
The swimmers will prepare for the National Aquatic Championship 2021 that will commence in Bengaluru from October, for which September 23 is the last date for sending entries.
A SWAM official said, “We finally decided to hold trials in Ahmedabad. The senior category trials will be held from September 25 to 26 and junior and sub-junior categories from September 27 to 29.”
Swimming coach Amit Temkar said, “Many swimmers preparing for nationals had given up, but with trials held outside the state, many middle-class parents will have to financially struggle for arrangements as candidates will be out-stationed. Maharashtra disappointed us this year.”
SWAM President Deepak Mejari said, “This is unfortunate. Neighboring states extended a helping hand to us for the trials. We don’t understand why it was so difficult to reopen swimming pools for 300 to 350 swimmers for a limited time.”
(Avya Mathur)
