Sejwal to lead Indian swimmers in last Rio qualifying meet

NEW DELHI: With the Rio Games qualifications coming to a close, Asian Games bronze medallist Sandeep Sejwal will lead the Indian swimmers in their last Olympic qualifying meet in Hong Kong on July 2-3.
A total of five swimmers — Sandeep Sejwal (100m & 200m breaststroke), Sajan Prakash (200m butterfly, 400m & 1500m freestyle), Supriyo Mondal (200m butterfly), Virdhawal Khade (50m freestyle) and Saurabh Sangvekar (400m freestyle) — have made the 'B' cut and will be hoping to improve their timings in the two-day Division 1 Age Group Long Course Competition.
Sejwal, who holds the maximum FINA points – 822 in 200m breaststroke and 808 in 100m breaststroke – among the qualified swimmers, sounded confident before the team's departure.
"This meet will be crucial but I am feeling no pressure. I have been doing this for the last 20 years. It is a do or die situation for all of us. I am confident because this year we have been racing a lot and each one of us knows which part of the race needs to be worked on," Sejwal said.
Sejwal, who won three gold medals with new meet records at the Malaysian Open in May, has been working with Sushil Kumar's dietician Ryan Fernando. The Delhi-lad believes following a gluten-free diet plan makes him feel fitter than what he was during the Incheon Asian Games.
"I have been on a gluten-free diet these last four months. I have lost a lot of unnecessary weight but not muscle weight. I am feeling more powerful in the water now," Sejwal, who was the first Indian swimmer to achieve the 'B' cut for the Olympics at the World Championship in Kazan last year, elaborated.
Sajan, who has been training in Phuket (Thailand) along with Shivani Kataria under a FINA scholarship scheme, is the second best in terms of FINA points with 798 in 400m freestyle. Sajan has also made the ‘B’ cut in 1500m freestyle (782) and 200m butterfly (785).
Speaking highly of his ward, Sejwal's coach Nihar Ameen said: "We have prepared really well all through the year and have done everything we possibly could. Now it's for the swimmers to give their best and see how they perform on that given day. Sandeep is the closest to the 'A' cut."
This is the first time that five swimmers have achieved the 'B' cut. Four swimmers — Sejwal, Khade, Sangvekar and Aaron Dsouza — had made the 'B' cut for the 2012 London Games but it was Gagan Ullalmath who had represented the country.
The Swimming Federation of India is likely to finalise the names after the Hong Kong meet. "Five-six swimmers will be going for the last qualifying in Hong Kong and we will take a final decision by July 2. There is a cap of 60 swimmers per event. Besides, the rules say that any swimmer who makes the 'B' cut should have participated in the World Championship," SFI general secretary Kamlesh Nanavati said.