Swimming association wants Yemmekere swimming pool exclusively for sports swimmers
Taking strong objection to the move to convert government Yemmekere swimming pool from from a 'sports pool' to a 'learners' pool', the Dakshina Kannada Swimming Association on Friday said the purpose for which the pool was built had been defeated.
Addressing presspersons here, Yatish Baikampady, president of the association, said the government invested ₹ 24.94 crore for constructing the pool with international standards at Yemmekere. The purpose of constructing the pool was to reserve it for sports swimmers who compete in State, national and international competitions. 'The pool was not built for general learners and swimmers,' Mr. Baikampady said.
Now about one-and-half years after its inauguration, in November 2023, the pool turned out to be a place for learners and general swimmers, thus putting professional swimmers to difficulty, he said.
The association demanded that only sportspersons be allowed to practice at Yemmekere between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. and between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Mr. Baikampady said that Mangala swimming pool operated and maintained by Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) allowed free entry to swimmers who won medals in State, national and international competitions. The MCC allowed free entry to 38 swimmers who won medals during 2024-25, but there was no free entry for medal winning swimmers at Yemmekere.
The association president said that personal coaches of medal winning swimmers were not allowed to enter Yemmekere swimming pool during the practice session of such swimmers. 'What kind of restriction is this,' Mr. Baikampady questioned.
'The contractor in-charge of maintenance and security of the Yemmekere pool is now dictating terms and even taking policy decisions,' the association president alleged, and said that the association questioned the same. 'It is the swimming pool of the government and not any private agency,' Mr. Baikampady said.
The association said that no alterations should be made to any of the two pools on the first floor of the swimming pool complex. 'But a platform for children has been built inside one of the pools. It is very dangerous when sports swimmers using the practice pool, dive,' Mr. Baikampady said.
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