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Champion swimmer Sandeep Sejwal ready for more challenges

Coach says Asiad medal-winning swimmer would have quit sport if he had not finished on podium

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1. Indian swimmer Sandeep Sejwal is now eyeing World Championships in Kazan 2. PM Narendra Modi with Indian swimming team. Coach Nihar Ameen is standing extreme left next to Sejwal
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Delhi's champion breaststroke swimmer Sandeep Sejwal, who gave India a rare Asian Games swimming medal late last month in Incheon, was on the verge of giving up the sport had he not finished on the podium.

His Bangalore-based coach Nihar Ameen told dna that the bronze medal Sejwal won in 50m breaststroke has inspired him to continue with his participation in the international meets, the next big one being the World Championships in Kazan (Russia) in July-August 2015.

"This medal has really inspired him (Sejwal)," Ameen said. "He was on the point where this could have been his last big meet. He has been training so hard for four years. Had he not had a podium finish in Incheon, his enthusiasm would have drained. But this medal has rejuvenated him. He will start training full blast for World Championships 2015.

"And, this has given him a real challenge for the future and the belief that he can have a podium finish at major international meets. For Asian Games 2010, he was very unwell. He was undergoing 6-8 months of treatment and was nowhere near his peak. It has been quite a tough time. Also adding to his difficult moments was the disappointment of not participating in 2012 Olympics despite meeting the qualifying mark."

Ameen was all praise for the 25-year-old Sejwal's never-say-die attitude. "He has kept himself motivated and deserves more (accolades). He has really fought against all odds and come out trumps. To get a medal at the Asian Games is very tough, especially in swimming. Japan and China have dominated for so many years. It is very tough to sneak in a swimming medal."

Ameen, who has also produced Olympian and 2010 Asian Games bronze medallist Virdhawal Khade of Maharashtra, said it was tough to compete against the Asian giants.

"You have two Chinese, two Japanese at the top and all you can hope for the best is fifth position. Even Korea is really strong. Singapore is putting in millions of dollars for their swimming programme and getting the cream of the world there, paying unbelievable sums. Singapore is paying $2,500 (Australian) a day for an Aussie physio. You can imagine us being alone there without any support, trying to compete. It is a complete David vs Goliath kind of situation."

Though there is support from Swimming Federation of India, Ameen felt technical and financial support would do wonders for Indian swimmers. "We are doing our preparation completely on our own. Of course, the federation supports us by sending our entries (to competitions). Before 2012 Olympics, I had put in a plan that was several crores of rupees for both Sandeep and Virdhawal but there was a lot of red tapism. I got one 30-day camp before the 2012 Olympics but now am looking at other avenues. If we can get support from the government, we can look at completely different results, not only for Sejwal but for a lot of other swimmers also."

Ameen was hopeful of better days ahead, especially after being inspired by PM Narendra Modi's speech over breakfast with Asiad medallists 10 days ago. Ameen said: "For the World Championships and Rio Olympics preparations, Sandeep needs foreign exposure and lots of racing. We have to find something. I have to show people that I can produce these things. People said Virdhawal Khade winning a medal (in 2010 Asiad) was a fluke. Repeating the same thing four years later, it is not a fluke anymore. There is a world-class programme in place and it needs support. I need to be supported because I can produce the goods. It is an Indian coach who is doing it, not a foreign coach.

Ameen said that Rio 2016 is still a long way for Sejwal. "The (qualifying) times are not yet released but am hopeful that he is very inspired and is getting the strength that is required to perform. I expect him to do quite substantially better than last time," Ameen said.

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