What are the challenges swimmers face in India

Swimming is gaining popularity among younger generation in many cities in India. But still, it is not as popular a sport in India as other sports like cricket, football or badminton.

Swimming is an important sport and it helps to regulate both physical and mental health of swimmers.

Here are a list of concerns we had when we were swimming. Things have improved quite a lot from the time I started to swim in India and now.

Lack of access to swimming pools

The major reason swimming is not a common sport in India is because there are not many swimming pools available in India. Other than a few major cities in India, most of the cities lack good swimming pools.

Tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India do not have good swimming pools at all. Rural areas completely lack any access to swimming pools. So though children in villages do swim in lakes and rivers they have hardly any access to a controlled environment to learn and excel. This makes it difficult for children to participate in the sport at any level

Lack of proper coaches

Just like any other sport, you need good coaches to excel. A good swim coach is necessary to train swimmers. Training should start young and should continue for several years before swimmers can participate in any state or national swim meet. There are only a few cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and few others that have good swimming coaches and swimming academies. The other cities in India hardly get any exposure to swimming.

High cost of swimming lessons

Swimming classes are expensive. This is mainly because the cost of maintaining a swimming pool is high. So not all Indian families can afford to train their children in swimming.

Competitive swimming often requires expensive equipment, coaching, and participation in events. Financial constraints can prevent talented swimmers from fully pursuing their potential, as they might not have access to the resources needed for proper training and competition.

Lack of awareness

Parents are not aware of the benefits of swimming. Knowing how to swim is very important to all individuals. It is a life skill that every child should know. Other than swimming being a low-impact sport, it also helps in full-body exercise. Swimming like other sports is known to have mental benefits.

For younger swimmers, parental support is crucial for transportation, financial support, and encouragement. However, not all parents might be aware of the benefits of competitive swimming or might have reservations due to concerns about safety or lack of understanding.

Inadequate safety measures

Some swimming pools in India do not have adequate safety measures in place, such as trained lifeguards or proper fencing. This can put swimmers at risk of accidents. There have been freak incidents earlier in many swimming pools in India which could have been avoided.

No proper maintenance of the pools

This is a common problem faced by swimmers almost in all swimming pools. There are a handful of pools that are maintained regularly and are maintained well. This creates a risk for swimmers using the pool. The chlorine level in the pools, the irregular cleaning schedule, broken tiles and algae in pools are sometimes a concern for swimmers.

Access to well-maintained swimming pools and facilities can be limited, especially in smaller towns and rural areas. This lack of proper infrastructure can hinder the development of swimmers and make it harder for them to train and compete at a high level.

The rest rooms and the change rooms are also a concern among swimmers as they are not maintained quite well.

Lack of water quality

Many swimming pools and natural water bodies in India may not meet the desired hygiene standards, leading to concerns about waterborne diseases and infections. Poor water quality can be a significant challenge for swimmers and might affect their health.

Limited Exposure and Recognition

Swimmers in India might face limited media coverage and recognition compared to athletes in more popular sports. This lack of exposure can impact sponsorship opportunities and overall growth of the sport.

The information on swim events and competitions is also not readily available online for swimmers to refer to.

Lack of Long-Term Athlete Development Plans

A comprehensive long-term athlete development plan is essential for nurturing talent from a young age and guiding their progress through different stages of their swimming career. The absence of such plans might hinder swimmers’ overall development.

Swimmers should be trained under well known coaches for several years.

Inadequate additional support

A swimmer not only needs support from a swim coach. They also need additional support from people like sports psychologists, and nutritionist. Sports science plays a vital role in optimizing training, injury prevention, and recovery. However, access to sports science support services like physiotherapy and others, might be limited for swimmers in certain areas.

Proper nutrition and dietary support are crucial for swimmers’ performance and recovery. However, not all swimmers may have access to the necessary nutritional guidance and resources.

Limited Exposure to Open Water Swimming

Open water swimming, such as in lakes, rivers, and oceans, presents its own set of challenges and requires different training approaches. However, not all swimmers in India might have access to open water training opportunities.

There are regulatory challenges related to safety standards, water quality checks, and permissions required for organizing swimming events and competitions.

Most swimming pools are outdoors and so swimming in all seasons, like during the monsoons is not possible.

It’s important to note that while these challenges exist, there are dedicated individuals, organizations, and governing bodies working to address these issues and promote swimming in India. With increased awareness, investment, and collaborative efforts, many of these challenges can be overcome to create a more favorable environment for swimmers to thrive.