At least a six-year plan is a must says Julian Bolling
View(s):By Bandula Molligoda
“Sri Lanka does not have swimmers even to compete in the Asian standards, despite the fact that we have enormous resources in the country like the vast sea around us, a large number of rivers and swimming pools in practically almost all schools and districts” said one of Sri Lanka’s most prominent swimmers — Julian Bolling in an interview with the Sunday Times.
Bolling, who is the recipient of 15 gold medals at the SAF games — the highest to win by a single athlete says the only way for the country to develop swimming to international standards is to draw up a six-year or at least a four-year plan.
Julian Bolling
He says the present of ad hoc arrangements to have a 3 month training programme just before an international tournament will not bring adequate results or help us to reach the international targets.
Our swimmers have definitely improved with regard to speed and the necessary skills, but India, our closest neighbors has improved beyond us.
When you can’t reach India’s standard at least how can we go beyond this”, he asked.
It has become a practice when the participants return from a tour, some authorities are in the habit of questioning them about the medals, they won, but they fail to understand that the participants went abroad without any proper training and planning, mooted by the relevant authorities. He said some of the leading swimmers in the country achieved fame by their own efforts and also they went on their own expense.
He suggests in order to overcome this situation, the ministry or Swimming Association must have a well planned six year or four year program for the purpose. He pointed out the success in 1991 SAF games swimming was due to having a two year planning.
Some of those who excelled well during that period were Deepika Chammugam, Inticab Sikkander and Nishantha de Costa. “These Swimmers who are now abroad are willing to come here to train the Swimmers here if there is a proper plan mooted” he said. He also drew attention to the drawback of inter-club tournaments, which is lacking now or not being even held for the last two years.
Julian recalled that his Mother Tara (Bolling) has the best achievement record in Swimming Sri Lanka by being placed fourth in 1958 Tokyo Asian Games. (400 Metres)
Three others who achieved records in Asian level were Deepika Chammugam (1990 – China), Timothy speldewin (1978 – Bangkok) and Renuka Ranasinghe (1978 – Bangkok). These three have won gold medals at SAF level.
Bolling said we are far behind time in mapping out a very well planned programme for our sportsman. At least we should have opened our eyes when we lost to Bangladesh at the last SAF games to buck up and get the machine moving. He recalled that the 2 year training programme for commonwealth games was suddenly stopped after Sri Lanka failed in the bidding for the holding of the commonwealth games.
Lack of proper response and communication among sports officials is another drawback, he said and added that they should at least work their scheduled 8 – hour work to ensure corporation and develop promote sports in the country. He stressed that in swimming is to reach the highest slandered there should be discussions held among all sports officials and work out a proper and appropriate plan for the purpose.
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