‘City needs all-weather swimming pool’

“Life outside and inside water is completely different. I love the calm that I feel once I am in the pool,” says Manik Soni, a national-level swimmer.

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For the 26-year-old sportsperson who is pursuing Masters in Physical Education swimming is like floating in the space.

In October last year, he set a new state record in 50m backstroke by completing the distance in 29.6 seconds.

He has won three silver and two bronze medals at the national-level championships, besides numerous medals in various state-level meets. Manik has given his best performances in 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, and 100m freestyle.

His father Sohan Lal who is posted with the Punjab Police has remained an international gymnast. “He encouraged me to take up sports. I started swimming at the age of 11,” Manik told The Tribune.

Manik took his initial training from Umesh Sharma, swimming coach with the Sports Department, Jalandhar. While Manik has earned several accolades, he believes that the lack of an all-weather swimming pool hinders the performance of a seasoned swimmer as well. Winter is off-season for swimmers as there is no all-weather swimming pool in the city and they can lose touch with the sport. Jalandhar, a sports hub, where the prestigious Government Sports School is situated and from where several Olympians and Arjuna awardees have emerged, doesn’t have an all-weather facility for the swimmers.

“The day I will start earning, I will build an all-weather swimming pool so that the coming generation of swimmers will not have to suffer,” he told The Tribune. With the pools becoming operational from April, Manik Soni cannot wait to start practicing for the coming national and senior national tournaments.

Manik who has loved swimming all his life has another concern of not landing a job in the Punjab Police. “After 2016, no sports quota recruitment has been made in the police department. My team mates who were great swimmers have moved abroad as they lost all hopes of getting job here. Now, I am looking for other jobs,” he shared.

Senior swimming coach Umesh Sharma said he was proud of Manik’s achievements. “He is one of the best students. It will be great if we get an all-weather swimming pool,” he added.

Sharma added, “There is an all-weather swimming pool in Mohali. During winters, the players either go to Mohali or somewhere else to practice. We have been demanding an all-weather pool in the city for a long time.”