IN FULL SWING:Students are training vigorously at the swimming pool at Anna Stadium in Cuddalore to qualify for State-level competitions.
CUDDALORE:
Thirty students, including 20 boys and 10 girls, are training vigorously at the swimming pool at Anna Stadium here to qualify for State-level competitions. Already, Saba Franklin has brought laurels to Cuddalore by winning the State title in December 2009 and national title in January 2010 in the Under-10 category. The students who start swimming as a pastime soon become obsessed with it, which in turn ignites their passion to achieve greater things. They regularly practise for hours together daily under the watchful eyes of qualified coach S. Aruna, who has obtained a diploma from the National Institute of Sports.
Mr. Aruna, employed by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, told The Hindu that he spots talent during the ‘Learn to Swim' summer camps being organised under the aegis of the Sports Development Authority. He would then pick them up for special coaching and impart the requisite techniques. Swimming was a combination of agility and technique and those who acquired mastery over these aspects would excel in their pursuit. He insisted upon the trainees to wear a cap, goggles and swimsuit to facilitate unhindered movement in the water. To streamline the rush of aspirants during summer, he had charted out seven camps, with each camp spreading over 15 days and each session lasting an hour. Totally, six sessions of one hour duration were being held everyday, with the 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. slot exclusively allotted to children and women. While those who participate in the camp would have to shell out Rs.250, the occasional swimmer would have to pay Rs.20 for an hour of swimming.
The fees thus collected would go to the kitty of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu. Mr. Aruna further said that a lot of care was being taken for the maintenance of the pool and in this task he was assisted by four life guards, one pump operator and one gardener. Total hygiene was maintained at the pool by cleaning it up once a month. Chlorine gas weighing three kg was being pumped into the water on weekdays and four kg of gas during weekends. The trainees were unanimous in their opinion that the plunge into the pool not only refreshed them but also brought out the latent talent in them. Swimming kept them fit and instilled in them confidence to face the vicissitudes of life.
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