ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Some 316 swimmers, boys as well as girls, from six countries, namely Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan, will be taking part in the first-ever South Asian Swimming and Water Polo Championship to be held here from Sept 3 to 8 at the Pakistan Sports Complex.

This biggest ever international swimming competition in Pakistan’s sports history will feature both Open and Under-14 categories. Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka will also compete in the water polo championship.

According to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Kamran Lashari, who is also president of the Pakistan Swimming Federation, Pakistan’s swimmers also have a qualified coach in Australia’s Steven Dewick.

“He has a two-year contract with us and has been here for two months already. Hopefully his coaching will result in bringing up our standards,” Lashari said.

It was also disclosed that the Pakistan Swimming Federation was acquiring land to open a host of swimming pools all over the country and particularly in Sindh and Balochistan. In the federal capital also, Lashari said, swimming pools would be included in four under-construction sports complexes while a ladies swimming pool is already near completion in the G-10 sector.

While distributing the daily schedule of the championship, the federation’s secretary, Maj Majid Wasim, hoped that Pakistani swimmers would do well in the championship.

Saying that he had seen potential in Pakistan’s swimmers, Australian coach Dewick hoped to be able to bring them up to the Asian level.—APP