‘With maturity we’ll get faster’

Sejwal puts it differently. “We get to compete against some of the better swimmers on the weekend. That gives you the confidence of holding on your own. If you don’t get to compete,you are scared ahead of a major championship. Its not easy to take them on if you haven’t competed at that level,” he says.

Talking about the difference between the Indians and the rest of the world including the Australians,Khade said that the only thing lacking with the team was experience. “In terms of skills we are at par with the rest of the world. The only thing we lag behind a little bit is on the strength aspect. Some of these swimmers have been training and competing for the last ten years. They have been making the final events in most of the major championships. They are strong and hugely experienced. Maybe when we mature we can go as fast as them or may even get faster in the pool.”

Sejwal and Khade won their respective events — 50m breast stroke and 50m butterfly — comfortably on Wednesday. But are seeking more improvement in their performances ahead of the Senior Nationals to be held in Jaipur from August 24 – the only event they’ll compete in ahead of the 2010 Games.

“For some reason I go faster in the evenings than in the mornings. Tomorrow I am going all out in the to change that. Let’s see how it goes,” Khade said,who will be in action in the 100m butterfly and 100 m freestyle events on Thursday.

Meanwhile,Richa Mishra,representing Police,bettered her individual mark in the 800m free style on her way to an easy gold medal. Karnataka’s Sushaka Pratap and Rajasthan’s Shristi Tandon took the second spot. Karnataka continued their domination of the pool,as led by Subha Chittaranjan,who claimed top spot in 50 m butterfly and 4×100 free style relay,they bagged four gold medals on Day Two of the Federation Cup at SP Mukherjee Swimming Complex on Wednesday. Maharashtra was second with three golds.

Results: 800m free style women: 1 Richa Mishra (POL) 09:10:96,2 Sushaka Pratap (KAR) 09:51:55,3 Srishti Tandon (RAJ) 09:56:79; 400m individual men: 1 Mervyn Chen (RSPB) 04:50:99,2 Aditya Sangwekar (RSPB) 05:00:37,3 KM Vishnu (SSCB) 05:03:39; 100m free style men: 1 Prasanta Karmakar (HAR) 01:03:75,Sharath Gayakwad (KAR) 01:06:38,3 Sachin Verma (MP) 01:06:69; 50m back stroke women: 1 Fariha Zaman (KAR) 00:31:85,2 Aarsi Poddar (BEN) 00:33:12,3 Amreen Malik (AP) 00:33:91; 50m back stroke men: 1 MB Balakrishnan (TN) 00:26:96,2 Rohit R Havaldar (KAR) 00:28:70,3 Praveen Tokas (RSPB) 00:29:33; 50m breast stroke women: 1 Priyanka Priyadarshni (DEL) 00:35:64,2 Manikiran Kaur (PUN) 00:36:39,3 Aarsi Poddar (BEN) 00:39:90; 100m free style women: 1 Kanchan Yogesh (MAH) 01:25:50,2 Kiran Tak (RAJ) 01:26:05,3 Vineeta Pathak (MP) 01:47:47; 50m breast stroke men: 1 Sandeep Sejwal (RSPB) 00:29:15,2 Arjun JP (RSPB) 00:30:42,3 Puneet Rana (PUN) 00:30:57; 200m free style women: 1 Arti Ghorpade (MAH) 02:13:09,2 Subha Chittaranjan (KAR) 02:18:68,3 Vani Sahni (DEL) 02:23:13; 200m free style men: 1 Rohit R Havaldar (KAR) 01:55:88,2 Anshul Kothari (GUJ) 01:59:83,3 Jaywant Vijaykumar (TN) 02:01:31; 50m butterfly women: 1 Subha Chittaranjan (KAR) 00:29:58 ,2 Heta Davey (MP) 00:30:58,3 Sneha T (KAR) 00:31:17; 50m butterfly men: 1 Veerdhawal Khade (MAH) 00:25:08,2 MB Balakrishnan (TN) 00:26:59,3 Tarun Tokas (DEL) 00:27:05; 3m spring board men: 1 M. Manesh Kumar (SSCB) 234.65,2 T Hari Prasad (RSPB) 227.70,3 Y Hemjit Meitei (JHAR) 223.00; 3m spring board women: 1 Hrutika Shriram (RSPB) 151.45,2 Karishma Mohite (KAR) 148.25,3 Swati Vidap (MAH) 119.10