Latest news with #DakshinaKannadaSwimmingAssociation
Time of India
2 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Free entry demanded for medal winners at Smart City swimming pool
Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada Swimming Association has demanded that winners of state and national level swimming events be given free entry at the Yemmekere Swimming Pool complex. Association president Yathish Bykampady told reporters on Friday, that the contract to maintain the new swimming pool has been awarded to a private agency, which does not allow swimmers trained by external coaches. Following persistent requests from people's representatives for the past 15 years, a new swimming pool of international standards has been developed by the Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) exclusively for athletes. However, the new swimming pool, where practice sessions were held until Dec 2024, has been handed over to We One Aqua Centre, and athletes are being denied entry, he said. "We have requested district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao to allow swimmers who have won national and state level medals to have free entry at the Yemmekere Swimming Pool. Following this, the minister sent a directive to the deputy commissioner. However, no action has been initiated even after two months," Yathish said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Health Plans for 2025 – Start Here Search7 Undo The Yemmekere Swimming Pool was built at a cost of Rs 24.9 crore, with Rs 2 crore reserved for three years of maintenance. However, the private agency has been allowing training for swimmers on a conditional basis, he said. Pool director denies allegations Meanwhile, Naveen Padil, director of We One Aqua Centre, which secured the tender from MSCL to run the pool, told reporters that he made a security deposit of Rs 50 lakh and is paying Rs 2.6 lakh as a monthly fee after taking over the pool through an open tender. Refuting the charges made by the Dakshina Kannada Swimming Association, Naveen said that they have not denied entry to national level swimmers. "Based on requests from people's representatives and officials, we have given free entry to swimmers who won national and international medals at the swimming pool. However, we have made it clear that coaches will not be allowed due to technical reasons," he added. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
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.
