Swimmers from Hyderabad put up a creditable performance winning four gold, 11 silver and seven bronze at the National Life-saving Pool Championship-cum-training in Pune. The camp’s focus was on life-saving techniques, a media release said.

The young talent, in the age group of 12-17 years, were initially given training in the different forms of saving lives in water. The swimmers were also taught how to respond to crisis calls, with focus on the recent Beas tragedy in which some college students from the city were washed away due to the sudden release of water from a dam.

For the 14 swimmers from the city, who had trained at the SAAP swimming pool here, it was an experience to remember.

“It is a creditable performance given that this was the first-ever exposure for the children, who had initially joined the pool at the Police Control Room solely for recreation. We hope to keep improving in the days to come, given the abundance of talent,” says coach Hajira Abbasi.

“It is a unique event wherein the skills of young talent are not only put to test, but in the process, they are made aware of their social obligation: that of helping the needy in the waters,” says the coach.

The medallists include: Under-12: Nadia Ishan Omer – 1 gold, 3 silver. Asma Anwar – 2 bronze, 2 silver. Devan – 1 gold, two bronze. Under-10: Akash Vardhan – 1 gold, 1 silver. Under-14: Manasa Mohte – 1 gold, two silver. Akshith Reddy – 2 silver. Teja Singh – 2 silver. Under-17: Snehit Reddy – 3 bronze.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / June 28th, 2014