Two for the high dive

The first task for any athlete in an Olympic year is to make sure that qualification is achieved. Once that is done and dusted, then comes the whole preparation and lead-up to the big event itself.

If you are a debutant Olympian there has to be a case of butterflies in the tummy as well. But Sandeep Sejwal and Virdhawal Khade, the swim twins of the country, are hardly bogged down by the expectations or the pressure that might be placed upon them.

"I am usually unnerved by big meets. But I have heard a lot about the Olympics being a special place for an athlete and I am eagerly looking forward to experiencing it first-hand," says Sejwal, who became the second Indian after compatriot Khade to qualify for Beijing.

Agrees Khade, "I am happy to make it to the Olympics, which has been my dream since I was a little kid." They may not be nervous, but they definitely are looking forward to the chance of representing the country at the Olympic Games.

At 19 and 17 years old respectively, Sejwal and Khade know that a medal is a distant dream, and that they have time on their hands. But they are relishing the prospect of testing their wits and training against the best in the world.

They have been putting in a lot of hard work to make sure that their performance doesn't go unnoticed. "It's a matter of immense pride to represent your country, something which I am looking forward to eagerly," says Khade.

Sejwal is now within the top 150 swimmers this year, going by world rankings. And at Beijing his aim is to break the top-100 barrier.

There has not been much change in his training programme with respect to the Olympic Games. A typical day consists of a three-hour training session in the morning, an hour of gym in the afternoon and then another three-hour training session in the evening.

Khade, on the other hand, has made specific changes in his training regime and trusts his coach Nihar Ameen, who is also coaching Sejwal.

Khade goes into Beijing extremely confident about his chances. And why shouldn't he be confident, he says: "I have put in a lot of hard work in the last few years and have been training extremely hard for the Games."

Both these guys will soon be leaving for the United States to train at the Race Club in Florida, and are looking forward to that eagerly. There they will work with Mike Bottom, who is acknowledged as one of the finest sprint coaches in the world.

Sejwal admits that he has a long way to go, and that with respect to the coming Olympic Games it is unrealistic to expect a medal. "But I am training hard and am sure that I will be closer by 2012."

Khade, on the other hand, says that his target is to reach the semi-finals and hope for the best. He is off to Mexico in July to participate in the World Youth Swimming Championships, and thinks that would be the ideal preparation. "I will be pitted against the best junior swimmers in the world and I am looking forward to it."

Participating in three events