Maharashtra swimmers unable to train for upcoming nationals as pools are shut

Swimmersrsquo dreams to represent Maharashtra in the upcoming Senior National Aquatic Championship could remain just that this year Due to the Covid19 regulations on swimming pools the statersquos swimmers who have been lacking practice will not be able to participate in the upcoming National Aquatic Championship 2021 at Bengaluru in October Swimming pools across Maharashtra are closed for more than oneand ahalf yearsCoaches and swimmers said they will miss their chance if there are no selection trials for the nationals and more importantly if competitors cannot practice They claim letters tweets and meetings to the authorities regarding this issue have remained inconclusive During Mission Break the chain all sporting activities were allowed except for swimming Many swimming associations had asked for some relaxations from the restrictions but government officials did not pay heed to their demandsVirdhawal Khade swimming champRecently the Swimming Association of Maharashtra wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray urging him to permit use of swimming pools in the state at least for training for the competition The junior and subjunior national aquatic championship will be held on October 15 and the senior championship will be held from October 26 to 29 in Bengaluru It will be followed by the Fina Swimming World Championship 2022 at Japan the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and The England and Asian Games 2022 If swimmers are not allowed to practice it will be difficult for them to qualify for these championshipsChamp urges govt to listenVirdhawal Khade Arjuna awardee and internationallevel swimmer said ldquoDue to these restrictions me and my wife relocated to Baroda Gujrat for training My wife Rujuta is preparing for the upcoming nationals and I am preparing for the world championship We have resources and have been managing it what about others A five months gap in training can push back any swimmer for one year I fear Maharashtra will not have the best of performances or will even manage to participate with its full strength and practice this yearrdquo Virdhawal urged the Maharashtra government to consider opening up pools in the state as it is less than 8 weeks for the nationals The Swimming Association of Maharashtra and other associations across the state have met various authorities in the government to seek permission for at least competitive swimmersThe municipal swimming pool at the Swatantraveer Smarak at Shivaji Park is one of the public pools that is closed since 2020 Private pools are open but they are unaffordable to swimmers File picAshish RajeKusal Roy president of the Greater Mumbai Amateur Aquatic Association GMAAA said ldquoAfter the first Covid19 wave swimming pools were allowed to operate with strict rules and regulations but it hasnrsquot happened after the second wave We are running from pillartopost to get relaxation from government authorities but we havenrsquot got success in the past five months There will not be any time for training and we may lose our chance to participate in the nationalsrdquoNeeta Talvilkar honorary general secretary of Swimming Association of Maharashtra said ldquoWe understand the pandemic situation but permission for competitive swimmers can be granted for time being Itrsquos been more than a year that swimmers havenrsquot had practice If we get permission to open pools it can allow us to have trials to select players to represent the staterdquo When asked about the response from the government over the repeated reminders she replied ldquoThere is absolutely no response from authorities We are ready to follow any SOP There has to be a way or else these restrictions will kill competitive swimming in Maharashtra for a long timerdquoOmkar Samant 12 is one of the swimmers who canrsquot prepare for the nationalsldquoI was planning to prepare my 12yearold son for the upcoming nationals but since March 2020 the pools are closed Private pools are open but are not affordable for practice Now he canrsquot be trained for nationals This decision will cost the state many a budding talent in swimmingrdquo said Vikram Samant a parentWhat WHO saysAccording to the World Health Organization the Covid19 virus is not transmitted through water while swimming The virus spreads between people when someone has close contact with an infected person Avoiding crowds and maintaining at least a 1 metre distance from others even while swimming or in areas surrounding swimming pools can be safeOct 26When Senior National Aquatic Championship will be held