History of sorts was created when the 25-year-old Sandeep Sejwal, arguably the best Indian swimmer in breast stroke, won a bronze in the 50 metre race in the Asian Games at Incheon. The Bronze was a silver lining for Indian aquatics. Sandeep’s performance was celebrated by the Indian swimming fraternity, especially two former Asian Games medallists Khazan Singh (1986) and Virdhawal Khade (2010). “It’s a great moment for Indian swimming,” says Khazan Singh. Khade quipped, “I am happy for Sandeep. He has worked hard and swims at a faster pace now.”
It has been a long journey to the top for Sewal, who hails from Delhi, but trains in Bangalore under the veteran coach Nihar Ameen at the Dolphin Swim Centre in Mathikere. Sejwal lost his father when he was a two-year-old toddler. He was supported by his his mother to carve a career in swimming . His successes in the age group competitions and national meets caught the eye of a discerning Nihar Ameen, who took him under his wing. Sejwal dominated the breast stroke events at home and won Silvers in Asian Indoor Games in 2007. He broke into top 100 bracket of the FINA World ranking in the 50 metre breast stroke and 100 metre breast stroke in 2008. He qualified and participated in 2008 Olympics at Beijing. He suffered a setback in 2010 when he fell sick; it robbed him of a chance for gold at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi . More accolades came his way in 2012, when he was conferred with Arjuna award. However, he was left out of the Indian squad for the 2012 Olympics .
Sejwal put that reversal behind him and recorded his best-ever competition time in the 50 metre breast stroke, clocking 28.12 seconds in the Commonwealth Games at Glasgow though he had to be content with a ninth place finish. Sejwal seized his moment at Incheon, when he touched 50 m finish pad at 28.26 seconds. “I went for gold, but it eluded me in the finish,” says Sejwal, who credited his victory to coach Nihar Ameen . Commending his wards exemplary work ethics, Ameen says: “I would easily put this on top of Sejwal’s performances in recent times. All our hard work and training had paid off and he deserves the medal.”
Ameen feels that Sejwal could have won the gold. “He was going good till 40 to 45 mark, but lost out in the last couple of strokes. It was a great effort, considering the opposition, with swimmers from China and Japan in the fray,” says Ameen.
The coach contends that the bronze medal effort had erased some bad memories for Sejwal, especially the exclusion from the team for 2012 Olympics. “We were in Germany training for the Olympics, when we got the bad news. He was shocked alright, but overcame that setback with a renewed effort,” says Ameen.
The next big target for Sejwal is the World Championship in Russia next year. He will participate in domestic meets including the Inter-Railway championship and Senior National championship. “I want him to do well in the World meet. We needto prepare seriously and I hope we get to train abroad, either in the US or in Europe,” says Ameen.
Ameen eyes an Olympic medal for Sejwal. “He is the only Indian swimmer to figure in the FINA World ranking. Yes, Olympic medal could be a heady shot and it all depends on the kind of facilities and support we get,” concludes Ameen.
