A fish out of water
Having achieved the B qualication mark for the Tokyo Olympics, India’s fastest swimmer Virdhawal Khade talks about the challenges that lie ahead of him.
swim we have a schedule of what competitions we are participating and what we are preparing for. As of now, there are no competitions and we can’t even get into the water. I don’t know if and when we do get into the water and how I am going to feel and how long it would take me to get back into good shape.
“Considering all these factors, it is a little frustrating and I am sure it is frustrating for all the other athletes as well… If we don’t start training and if this situation goes on for another month, there is a very good possibility that I might retire,” says the man who made it to the Beijing Olympics in 200■ at the age of 16.
Khade, who was the youngest Indian swimmer to make it to the quadrennial event, missed the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Then, he started resurrecting his swimming career.
At the 2019 National Swimming Championship in Bhopal, Khade achieved the B qualication mark for the Tokyo Olympics with a timing of 22.44 seconds in the 50m freestyle. The A qualication mark is 22.01 seconds. No Indian swimmer has ever achieved the Amark. Khade had his eyes set on becoming the rst.
The Bmark qualication will only ensure an invitation to the Olympics if the total available quota slots (■7■) are not lled.
“I have already spoken to my family regarding this (retirement) and they trust my judgement. My coach and teammates want me to swim because they feel I can perhaps qualify for the Olympics, but it’s dicult starting from zero and trying to qualify in just about eight months,” says Khade, who became the rst Indian to break into the top 50 of FINA World Rankings, in 2010.
“It’s not an easy thing to do. I think all the good form we had got into over the past couple of years leading up to the Olympics is gone now because we haven’t gotten into the water for three months. I have to consider very strongly if the gamble is worth taking. If you compare me to the other swimmers, I am much older. I have been actively working with the state (Maharashtra) government, I have been married for three years, and I have to think about my future.”
Khade is honest about his standing in the present scenario.
“I don’t know about others but for me, it’s denitely tough. If I start swimming today I would probably do 24 seconds. That is three seconds away from the target I had set. So, it’s denitely challenging. As every day goes by, it is becoming more unlikely and dicult.”
Before the lockdown, Khade was riding high on condence having nished fourth in the 201■ Asian Games, despite a knee surgery. He was on schedule to travel to the United States for a training camp. But, the travel restrictions forced him to stay in Mumbai.
“In the past, I have taken some decisions, taking into account the circumstances at those times. I qualied for the Olympics in 200■ in three events and it was a dream back then to go for another Olympics and perhaps win a medal. We did believe that it was possible. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make the team in 2012 and 2016 even after getting the B qualication. It was an eyeopener,” the Arjuna Award recipient says.
“I had to think about my future and got into a government job and right now it’s pretty much the same situation. Because of the COVID19 lockdown, nothing is in our control.”
Even one available pool would help to stay motivated, believes Khade. “If we can swim regularly, we can at least convince ourselves that we are in good shape and keep going.”
With the earliest competition for Olympics qualication scheduled next year, Khade is doing what he can to stay t and not put on weight. going to help us swim faster.”
Khade fears the pandemic will impact Indian swimming. “We are going to lose out on a lot of good talent.”