Indian swimmers shine among youth in SA Olympic trials

Danush Suresh and Vedant Khandeparkar clinched three medals in the youth grouping of the South African National Olympic trials at the Kings Park Aquatics Centre in Durban.

While the JSW-supported Danush earned a gold and silver in the 200m and 100m breaststroke respectively on Wednesday, Vedant took bronze in the 200m butterfly, said a media release on Thursday.

The South African National Olympic trials is a selection meet for the nation’s swimmers for the upcoming Rio Olympics in August.

The trials are also open to young swimmers, who compete in the youth grouping against competitors from across the country and all seven Indian swimmers, supported by the JSW Sports Excellence Programme, participated in the competition, said the release. Chennai-based Danush’s clocked a personal best 2:25.42 to clinch the gold in the 200m breaststroke to earn a place in the semifinals of the event in the open category.

In the 100m breaststroke, Danush’s silver medal was clinched after he clocked 1:07.39. Vedant, who hails from Mumbai, clinched the bronze in the 200m butterfly timing 2:14.13 seconds. Coach Graham Hill, who is training the Indians, said that doing well in a competition as keenly contested as the Olympic trials would do a world of good to the confidence of the seven swimmers.