KSA adds more categories to age-group events

Bengaluru: With no Indian swimmer attaining the qualifying mark for the Paris Olympics, the sport is back to square one, relying on Universality Places to make the Olympics cut. The Karnataka swimming Association, in a bid to identify more talent and give opportunities to younger swimmers has revamped the age-group system in the state championships.
On Friday, the state sub junior and junior swimming championship got underway with over 980 swimmers in fray. Earlier, the age-group competition was held in three categories – Group I (15-17 years), Group II (12-14) and Group III (10-11). Starting this year, each group has been further divided to ensure same-age swimmers are clubbed together. For example, Group II has been split into Group II -A (12 years), B (13) and C (14).
Speaking about the change in format, KSA secretary M Satish Kumar, said, “This change was long overdue. The thought process behind the changes is many. We want to have a greater talent pool to choose from and one of the main ways of doing that is to increase the competitive opportunities. Also, for example, in the 14-17 years age group there is a tendency for some of them to feel discouraged when they don’t match up.”
The event was first tested at a mock state meet held from May 26-28. “The response for the event was encouraging and that prompted us to introduce this new format this year.”
The state meet this year has been extended from four days to seven and the number of events have increased to 250 from 118. According to Satish, the participation has increased by 10% this year. The change is limited to Karnataka and the Swimming Federation of India continues with the existing age group competitions. Since two entries per event are sent from each state, Satish said, the two best timing from the subgroups will represent the state in Group I, II & III.
“At KSA we believe this is the way forward and we will table this model at the federations Annual General Body meeting this year,” concluded Satish.
Manavi clinches two gold on opening day
Dolphin Aquatic Centre’s Manavi Varma was in fine touch as she clinched two gold medals (Group I-A) on the opening day of the State sub-junior and junior aquatics championship here on Friday.
Results (Winners only): Boys: Group I-A: 1500m fs: S Dharshan (BAC; 16:29.49); 200m fs: S Dhakshan (BAC; 1:56.91); 100m breaststroke: Krish Sukumar (Dolphin; 1:07.94); 100m backstroke: Aman Abhijit Sungar (Dolphin; 1:00.15); 50mfly: Chinthan Shetty (Mangala; 25.50). Group I-B: 1500m fs: Monish PV (BAC 17:06.77); 200m fs: 1. Monish PV (BAC; 2:04.73); 100m breaststroke: Ayush Shivaraju M (Dolphin; 1:09.85); 100m backstroke: Vedanta VM (BAC; 1:00.66); 50m fly: Harikarthik Velu (Golden; 26.51). Group III-A: 200m fs: N Pavan Krishna (BAC; 2:24.47); 100m breaststroke: 1. Avyukt Mohan (BAC; 1:31.30); 100m backstroke: Amith Pavan (JIRS; 1:14.57); 50m fly: Amith Pavan (JIRS; 31.19). Group III-B: 200m fs: Ruthva S (Dolphin; 2:34.47); 100m breaststroke: Emmanuel Daniel Saldanha (Jai Hind; 1:36.49); 100m backstroke: Muhammad Zayd (NAC; 1:26.17); 50m fly: Ruthva S (Dolphin; 33.66). Girls: Group 1-A: 1500m fs: Aditi N Mulay (BAC; 17:55.29; NMR); 200m fs: Hashika Ramachandra (BAC; 2:09.28); 100m breaststroke: Manavi Varma (Dolphin; 1:17.09); 100m backstroke: Aarushi Agrawal (Dolphin; 1:08.57); 50m fly: Manavi Varma (Dolphin; 28.83; NMR). Group I-B: 1500m fs: Sri Charani Tumu (Global; 18:09.54); 200m freestyle: Sri Charani Tumu (Global; 2:11.75); 100m breaststroke: Thanya S (JIRS; 1:17.65); 100m backstroke: Meenakshi Menon (BAC; 1:09.67); 50m butterfly: Suhasini Ghosh (Dolphin; 30.23). Group III-A: 200m freestyle: Stuti Singh (BSA; 2:29.44); 100m breaststroke: Shreya Suresh Pujar (BSA; 1:28.83); 100m backstroke: Stuti Singh (BSA; 1:22.94); 50m butterfly: Shwiti Diwakar Suvarna (Dolphin; 32.02). Group III-B: 200m freestyle: Jharna Sisodiya (Ekalavya; 2:44.13); 100m breaststroke: Rithanya Shivakumar (BAC 1:40.); 100m backstroke: Smrithi Mahesh (BAC; 1:27.87); 50m butterfly: Smrithi Mahesh (BAC; 36.37).