Indians disappoint in World Swimming, Khade's feat lone high point

New Delhi, Apr 1 (UNI) Maharashtra boy Virdhawal Khade's feat of securing Beijing Olympic berth in men's 200m freestyle was the only silver lining as all other Indians brought up the bottom of the table in the World Swimming Championship which concluded in Melbourne today.

On the final day of the eight-day competition, Guwahati National Games best athlete Rehan Poncha swam near his best but finished sixth in men's 400m individual medley heat and 36th overall, clocking 4:37.32.

His effort in the competition was just below his personal best and national record of 4:37.04 but was 25.31 sec behind World Record holder Michael Phelp's heat timing of 4:12.01.

Phelps went on to win gold in the event and set up a new World Record of 4:06.22 erasing his earlier mark of 4:08.26.

Madhavi Giri swam 5:28.93 in women's 400m individual medley that earned her third in her heat but 32nd overall and 50.72 sec adrift of Hoff Katie of USA who led the timings in the heats, according to information received here today.

The Indian men's team then finished last in seven-team 4X100m medley relay heat, clocking 4:04.21. Poncha, Sandeep Nagar Anthal, Ankur Poseria and Khade was placed 26th among 28th participant teams and 27.17 sec adrift of Japan who have best timings in the heats.

In fact, no Indian could go beyond the heats even though some of them won their respective heats as their timings were well below other competitiors.

Earlier in the week, fifteen-year-old Khade qualified for Beijing Olympics in 200m freestyle and later set a national record in 100m freestyle though he failed to make it to the semi-finals in both the events.

He also finished second in 50m freestyle with a time of 24.06 sec heat but ended 42nd overall.

Yesterday, Shipra Mahajan and Parita Parekh won their respective heats in women's 50m freestyle but failed to qualify for the semi-finals.

Parita won clocked 28.69 sec and Mahajan with a time of 29.22 sec were placed 75th and 87th overall in a field of 136 swimmers.

In men's 50m backstroke, Anthal (28.50 sec) and Muralidharan (28.62 sec) stood third and seventh in their respective heats to finish 51st and 52nd in overall respectively.

The Indian quartet of Khade, Poncha, Poseria and Muralidharan also finished last in men's 4 X 200m freestyle heat, clocking 8:01.49.

In men's 100m butterfly, Poseria stood third in heat with a time of 55.51 sec but finished 56th overall. In the same event, Muralidhran clocked 57.46 sec to finish seventh and 75th overall.

In women's 50m butterfly, Parita finished second and 76th overall, clocking 32.07.

UNI