Silver Jubilee celebrations of Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre

Modified Jan 25, 2013 18:17 IST

Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre is all set for its silver jubilee celebrations. The meet will see more than 400 swimmers who have trained at the premier centre – including Olympian Gagan Ullalmath – in action.

Established in 1986, Basavanagudi Aquatic Centre has been at the centre of the swimming scene in India. Several talented swimmers, including Olympians Nisha Millet, Gagan Ullalmath and young swimmers like Aaron D’Souza and Rehan Poncha have honed their skills at the centre, under the watchful eyes of National Coach Pradeep Kumar, who has been training swimmers at the centre for more than 20 years now.

An association started by volunteers with just 25 swimmers, BAC has grown to be the biggest institution of its kind in the country, providing great impetus to the growth of competitive swimming in India. Several talented swimmers from different parts of the country have shifted base to Bangalore, solely to train at the BAC. The centre has produced several Olympians, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games medallists and Arjuna awardees who have made the country proud at international meets.

Today, the association trains 400 regular swimmers in the age group of 6-26 years. As the BAC celebrates 25 years of promoting excellence in swimming, the centre aims to realize its dream to build the first facility in the state equipped to hold international meets, utilising the Rs. 30 million funds raised through donations.

Achievements

The Centre has nurtured about a hundred International Level Competitive Swimmers and the list includes Olympians, medallists at Asian swimming championships, Asia-Pacific Aquatic competitions, SAF Games etc.

Three swimmers of the Centre have represented India at the Olympics so far- Nisha Millet (Sydney 2000), RehanPoncha(Beijing 2008) and Gagan Ullalmath (London 2012).

Four swimmers from the Centre – Nisha Millet (1999), Abhijith J (2000), Rehan Poncha (2010) and Prasanta Karmakar (2012) have been conferred the Arjuna Award by the Government of India.

Schedule for the events

Date	Time	Distance	Events	Category
25^thJanuary, 2012	5:00 PM	1500m	Freestyle	Open

26^th January 2013	8:00 A.M to 1:00 PM(Approximate)	25 M	ButterflyFreestyle Breaststroke Backstroke	Category, III boysCategory, III girls
		50 M	ButterflyFreestyle Breaststroke Backstroke	Category I, II BoysCategory I, II girls
		100m	Individual Medley	Category I, II boysCategory I, II girls

26^th January 2013	4 PM onwards	200m	Freestyle	Category II, III boysCategory II, III girls
		100m	Freestyle	Category III, IV boys,Category III, IV girls
		50 M.	BreaststrokeButterfly Backstroke	Category II, III, V boysCategory II, III, V girls
		4 X 50 M.	Medley relay	Category III, IV boys,Category III, IV girls

27^th January 2013	8.00 am. to 1.00 p.m	100 M	BackstrokeBreaststroke Butterfly	Category III boys,Category III girls
		200 M	BackstrokeBreaststroke Butterfly	Category II boys,Category II girls
		200 M	Individual medley	Category III, IV boys,Category III, IV girls
		4 X 50 M	Freestyle relay	Category III, IV boys,Category III, IV girls
		50 M	Back stroke	Category II, III, IV boys,Category II, III, IV girls
		50 M	Breast stroke	Category IV boys,Category IV girls
		50 M	Free style	Category II, III, IV, V boys,Category II, III, IV, V girls