Indian swimming ke paas aaj tak itna jada talent, behtar facilities aur strong support system kabhi nahi tha. Phir bhi desh abhi tak world stage par apne bade breakthrough moment ka wait kar raha hai. Yeh saaf aur honest assessment former Asian Games medallist aur current national swimming coach Sandeep Sejwal ka hai. Unka maanna hai ki India ke paas success hasil karne ke liye zaroori saare ingredients maujood hain, lekin abhi bhi aisa ecosystem nahi hai jo lagataar world-class swimmers tayyar kar sake.
China, Australia aur United States jaise global swimming powerhouses ke muqable India ki position par baat karte hue, Sandeep Sejwal, jo Inspire Institute of Sport mein training dete hain, ne maana ki dono ke beech ka gap abhi bhi kaafi bada hai. Halaanki, unhone yeh bhi saaf kiya ki problem talent ki kami nahi hai.
“Hamare paas talent hai. Hamare paas facilities hain. Hamare paas sahi mindset aur sahi log hain,” Sejwal ne kaha. Unke according asli challenge experience ki kami aur ek aise system ka na hona hai jo swimmers ko chhoti umra se hi elite-level competition ka exposure de sake.
Regular Olympic champions produce karne wale deshon ke muqable, Indian swimmers abhi bhi highest level par compete karna seekh rahe hain. Sandeep Sejwal ka maanna hai ki agar India ko yeh gap kam karna hai, toh swimmers ko lagataar international exposure aur long-term planning deni hogi. Unki sabse strong observations mein se ek swimming ke competition scheduling system ko lekar thi. Unhone kaha ki sirf annual planning ab kaafi nahi hai aur ek 4 saal ka competition calendar hona chahiye jo Commonwealth Games, Asian Games aur Olympics jaise bade international events ke saath align ho. “June mein hone wali competition ke liye March mein planning shuru karna athletes ko taiyari ke liye paryapt samay nahi deta,” unhone kaha.
Sejwal ne zor dete huye kaha ki athletes ke long-term development ke liye pehle se sochi-samjhi aur lagataar planning bahut zaroori hai.
Filhaal, Sandeep Sejwal ka sabse bada focus Sajan Prakash hi hain. Sajan ka target aane wale Commonwealth Games aur Asian Games hain. Coach ke mutabik, unke recent performances dikhate hain ki woh apne event mein medal ke mazboot daavedaron mein shamil hain, aur data ke hisaab se bhi woh filhaal top contenders mein gine ja rahe hain. Halaanki Sajan ne pichhle kai saalon se apna personal best time improve nahi kiya hai, lekin Sejwal is baat ko lekar kaafi positive hain. Unhone bataya ki pichhle ek saal mein swimmer ne lagataar progress dikhayi hai aur unhe poora bharosa hai ki Commonwealth Games tak Sajan apna personal best break kar sakte hain.
Sabse badi challenge ab speed nahi, balki recovery hai. 32 saal ki umra mein Sajan Prakash ab waise training nahi kar sakte jaise woh apne early twenties mein karte the, jab woh bahut jada intense training volume complete karne ke baad bhi jaldi recover ho jaate the. Isi wajah se coaching team ab recovery par khaas dhyaan de rahi hai aur alag-alag recovery strategies par kaam kar rahi hai. Ismein customised nutrition plans, ice baths, stretching protocols aur massage therapies shamil hain, taaki Sajan bade competitions ke dauran apni best performance ko lagataar banaye rakh saken.
Physical challenges ke bawajood, Sandeep Sejwal ke mutabik Sajan Prakash ki sabse badi strength unki mental toughness hai. Sajan aaj bhi mushkil training sessions ko poore jazbe ke saath apnaate hain aur apne aakhri bade championship cycle ke liye poori tarah committed hain. Sajan ke alawa, Sejwal ne ek ubharte huye swimmer ka bhi naam liya jo future mein Indian swimming ka bada sitara ban sakta hai — Tirthank Pegu. Young swimmer ne haal hi mein Asian Youth Games mein silver medal jeeta tha aur pichhle ek saal mein apne timings mein tezi se sudhaar dikhaya hai. Sejwal ka maanna hai ki Pegu ke paas behtareen physical abilities hain aur agar woh isi tarah progress karte rahe, toh aane wale saalon mein India ke agle international success stories mein se ek ban sakte hain.
Interesting baat yeh hai ki Sandeep Sejwal ka maanna hai ki aaj ki generation ke swimmers pichhli generations se alag tareeke se seekhte hain. Pehle athletes doosron ko dekhkar seekhte the, lekin aaj ke young swimmers aksar apni galtiyon aur failures se seekhte hain. Unke mutabik, international level par milne wali haar aur setbacks bhi bahut keemti sabak hote hain, jo aage chal kar champions ko taiyar karne mein madad karte hain. Baatchit ke dauran Inspire Institute of Sport ke role par bhi charcha hui. Sejwal ne ise India ke sabse important sporting ecosystems mein se ek bataya. Unka kehna hai ki world-class facilities zaroor aham hain, lekin IIS ki sabse badi taakat uski experienced coaching team aur collaborative culture hai, jahan coaches aur athletes milkar ek-doosre ki growth aur performance ko behtar banane ke liye kaam karte hain.
IIS campus mein swimming coaches regularly athletics, wrestling aur doosre sports programs ke coaches ke saath ideas aur experiences share karte hain. Isse aisa environment banta hai jahan innovation aur learning har din hoti rehti hai. Sandeep Sejwal ke liye, knowledge share karne ki yahi culture shayad woh sabse bada factor hai jo India ko next level tak pahunchane mein madad kar sakta hai. India ke sabse sammanit swimming experts mein se ek Sejwal ka message bilkul clear hai: desh ko ab talent develop karne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Talent pehle se maujood hai. Zaroorat ek aise mazboot system ki hai jo is talent ko world-class results mein badal sake. Aur agar yeh system sach mein poori tarah se tayyar ho gaya, toh Indian swimming ka bahut dino se intezar kiya ja raha breakthrough shayad jada door nahi hoga.
No matter the field, systems are essential. Sustainable growth comes from building strong systems, and that requires working with like-minded people who share the vision and commitment to make them successful.