We’ll be in Korea for medals: swimmers

Dar es Salaam. Four swimmers will represent Tanzania in the Fina World Championship scheduled for July 12 to 28 in Gwangju, South Korea.

The quartet – Hilal Hemed Hilal, Collins Saliboko, Sylvia Caloiaro and Shivan Bhatt – will be gunning for medals in the 16-day event.

Tanzania swimming Association (TSA) said yesterday that the four swimmers are the best in the country owing to their top ranking by world swimming governing body (Fina).

“We have settled on the four. They have all been notified and hopefully they will stake their claim for medals in South Korea and do the country proud,” the TSA secretary general, Inviolata Itatiro, said.

“They also look forward to improving their times and conquering their challenges on the global stage,” she added.

According to her, the swimmers have already started training ahead of the event, which will bring together top swimmers from around the world.

Itatiro said the quarter earned calls for national duty following their impressive performances in various championships.

She said the swimmers performed impressively in this year’s National Club Championship, which took place at International School of Tanganyika (IST) swimming pool in the city.

Hilal and Saliboko are now shaping up in Dubai and United Kingdom respectively ahead of the Gwangju championship.

According to Inviolata, Caloiaro and Bhatt, who feature for Taliss-IST Swimming Club, are also undergoing intensive training in Dar es Salaam.

“She also said three swimmer, Hilal, Saliboko and Caloiaro will train and head to Gwangju under the auspices of Fina,” the TSA official said.

She said they are still striving to raise money for Bhatt’s preparations and participation in the championship.

She said she was optimistic the four swimmers will claim top honours in the much anticipated championship.