Swimmers Patel and Salyani feel at home here

Reports by Mutwiri Mutuota in New Delhi, India

For medicine under graduate Hanika Patel and teammate Nadir Salyani, Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games felt like returning home despite the fact they were competing for a country 5,429.11Km away.

"It’s amazing, I’m so glad to have come to this event. We are both excited and our family in India have come out to support us even though we are competing for Kenya," the first year medical student at Australia’s Queensland University told FeverPitch yesterday at the Dr SPM Aquatic Centre.

Flanked by Nadir who studies at Mombasa’s Aga Khan Academy, Hanika had just swam 1:07.32 for a third place finish in the women’s 100m freestyle. Sadly for the bubbly swimmer, her time placed her 38th overall and out of the semis.

"Being our first senior Commonwealth Games, we have learnt a lot from the world-class athletes we have interacted with here. The way they train, the way they eat and how they condition themselves.

"It’s very different from what we do since these guys eat, sleep and drink swimming. We are now getting used to how things are done at the top level and hopefully, we can improve and qualify for London Olympics." On Monday, Hanika (33.62) finished third in her 50m backstroke heat but also failed to qualify for the event’s semis.

Talented youth

"We are coping well since arriving here and I tried my best. The positive thing is the improvement we made on our times but there is no denying we need a sports school in Kenya for talented youth.

"This is the only way we can meet the standards required to compete against the best. Seeing the type of things other swimmers are doing, we still have a long way to go but meeting world class competitors is awesome," Nadir, who also bowed out of the women 100m freestyle after coming fifth in the same heat said.

However, their moment in the sun was blighted by the fact they could not be distinguished as members of Team Kenya at the pool in another moment of crying shame for National Olympics Committee of Kenya.

"We competed in our training suits and it is so embarrassing. Look at the other guys (as she turned to other competitors at the mixed zone). You can tell where they are from. They told us our uniforms have not yet arrived," Hanika lamented. "Proper swimming uniform can improve performance by milliseconds, which is so crucial in this sport. Psychologically, performance can improve when you are wearing your country’s uniform because of the pride associated with it," Nadir added.

One swimmer who felt the full impact of losing out on the semis by the thinnest of margins was coast based Physical Education teacher, Ramadhan Vyombo, who finished sixth.