Ready to race the best: Sejwal-Sep 29, 2010,

Ready to race the best: Sejwal

Vinay Nayudu, TNN, Sep 29, 2010, 02.19am IST

Tags:sp mukherjee aquatics complex|sandeep sejwal|games village|cwg 2010 swimming|commonwealth games
NEW DELHI: Local boy and India's big swimming hope Sandeep Sejwal is staying cool ahead of the big Commonwealth Games test but does admit that the pressure of performing in front of a home crowd and the expectations of medals is indeed playing on his and his teammates' minds.

The 21-year-old senior national champion and a national record holder in 50, 100 and 200 metres breaststroke events is keeping things in check and says is excited to fish out medals from the pool come October 5.

"It's just that everyone expects a medal from you and that I guess makes your job more difficult," said the relaxed-looking swimmer while taking a stroll at the Games Village post-lunch on Tuesday.

He, however, added that it was but natural with the India hosting the Games.

Having bagged silver medals at the Asian Indoor Games in 2007 and with the experience of having swum at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the St. Stephens student appears set to make more ripples in the pool. "If I can clock the same timings as I did in Beijing then I can expect to finish in the top three. I had broken two of my own national records then, I now hope to go a step further. I would like to better my own national marks in three events including the 100 and 200m breaststroke," he said, raising his shoulders.

Coached by Nihar Ameen in Bangalore, Sejwal is clearly brimming with confidence and isn't much worried about the competition he'll face from the Australian and South African swimmers. "It doesn't worry me much because we have been racing against them for the last five years and we know what to expect and what it takes to be among the best. We are keeping things simple and focusing on our training which in the last 10 days is always very important," he explained.

Sejwal is riding on the advantage of having trained and competed in various European meets over the last six months, thanks to the government sponsorship. The swimmer, alongwith other Indians, trained and competed in Paris, Germany, France and Spain and the improvement is surely to show when they compete in CWG.

He feels the difference between Beijing and now New Delhi is in competition. "Olympics is the biggest stage, here it's going to be different but I must say the feeling is quite similar. The Village also gives you that good feel," he added.

Training at the SP Mukherjee Aquatics Complex, the venue for CWG swimming meets, Sejwal says the big dash ahead of the real action is yet to come.

"The pool has been quite empty as we only the Indians are training. In a day or two it will pick