ISLAMABAD, March 1: Rubab Raza who was Pakistan’s first female Olympic swimmer at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens is now set for a maiden appearance at this month’s Commonwealth Games.

The O’Level student from Lahore is one of four swimmers who will be on board the plane for Melbourne where the Games open on March 15.

Rubab and her team-mates Kiran Khan, Nisar Ahmed and Nasir Mehmood know that winning medals Down Under will be out of question but for them there’s valuable experience to be gained.

“For us it is all about representing the country, learning in a competitive environment and doing the best we can” Rubab told Dawn on Wednesday. “I am happy to be part of the contingent.”

Preparations at the camp under their Chinese coach have gone off well, so well in fact that Rubab set a new mark of 1.6.06 sec in the 100m freestyle event during the selection trials.

Winner of two silver and as many bronze medals at the 2004 SAF Games in Islamabad, Rubab’s other events in which she is likely to take part are 50m freestyle and 50m and 100m (backstroke).

For little Rubab, the Olympiad was just too big an event.

“I had no realisation of it when I was actually there but now when I look back I am simply overwhelmed.”

But she has a fair idea about the Commonwealth Games. “I know what it is going to be like because Kiran has told me quite a lot about them.”

As far as the Commonwealth Games go, Kiran has more experience having donned the Pakistan blazer at the last edition in Manchester. Her events which will be confirmed in Melbourne are 50m butterfly, 100m butterfly, 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle.

The rivalry between the two girls is intense in the pool but outside they are good friends and get along really well.

“It will be the second time we will be together at a major event after the 2004 World Championships at Barcelona,” says Rubab who was also on Pakistan’s Afro-Asian Games squad.

As representatives in a sport which women in Pakistan often do not take up at a competitive level, Rubab feels they will be the stepping stone for future generations.

“I think we will improve from competition to competition before a time comes when we start winning medals internationally which will encourage other girls to swim.”

Rubab, whose parents come down to Islamabad from Lahore to cheer her up every weekend has set long and short-term goals for herself which she hopes to achieve one day.

In the short-term her aim is to win a 50m freestyle gold at this year’s South Asian Games in Colombo and in the long-term an Asiad gold.

“Any medal will do there but there’s nothing like a gold,” she said smilingly.

On the men’s side Nisar who will compete in the 200m and 400m (individual medley) and Nasir whose events are 50m, 100m and 200m (breaststroke) are both looking forward to the Games.

“We will try to improve on our timing we have clocked in the camp and if we manage to do that in Melbourne it will be good for us,” said Nasir, a triple gold winner at the National Championship last year.

A member of Pakistan squad that took part in the 2005 Asian Indoor Games, Nasir missed out on a 100m breaststroke record at the trials by just .28 seconds.

“We are continuously striving to better our timing and hopefully we are going to do it in Melbourne,” he said.

For both swimmers, the Commonwealth Games will be their first and the two are hoping to make at least a tiny splash in their own right.