The Hindu : Sport / Swimming : Good show by Chandana

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Good show by Chandana

Kalyan Ashok

— Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

SUCCESS! The going has been good for Chandana this season.

BANGALORE: For the 14-year-old Chandana, it has been a season of success.

Close on the heels of a couple of good performances in the pool in the State and National sub-junior and junior championships, the youngster went on to claim the girls’ under-15 title in the National sub-junior aquathlon championship at Porbandar recently.

The aquathlon, which involves 400 metres of swimming and 3km run, is not an easy race by any yardstick, given the conditions at Porbandar, where the competitors had to do their swimming in sea and run a rough terrain.

Chadana beat a tough field, clocking 18:31.74 seconds.

“Swimming in sea was a surprise, but after initial hesitation, I was able to do it pretty well and of course, running came naturally to me,” Chandana said.

Chandana is a State-level athlete who had podium finishes in 800, 1500 and 3000m races.

After joining the PM Swim Centre, she had been doing some impressive times in swimming as well, especially in freestyle and butterfly, under the training of John Christopher, head coach of PMSC.

“I would rather like to see her focus more on swimming as she has a good potential,” said the coach.

Her performances in the National School Games and the South Zone aquatics championship came as a big morale booster.

The tenth standard student of Carmel Convent, however, wants to do well in all disciplines including athletics, swimming and aquathlon.

“I am not having any particular preference. As long as I am confident of a good show, I would like to try it all and do my best.” Chandana, whose sibling Chandini is also a State swimmer, said.

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