Over 9500 athletes to be in action as all set for National Games

Dehradun hosts the 38th National Games with top athletes facing cold weather challenges, aiming for success.

For someone from the warm South, it’s very cold out here in Dehradun. With such weather, one wondered how the swimmers would manage life during their competition in the 38th National Games which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially inaugurate here on Tuesday.

Olympian Srihari Nataraj, one of the top names in the sport, is yet to test the waters at Haldwani — some 270km from Dehradun — where swimming begins on Wednesday.

“I’m here in Delhi, waiting for my flight to Dehradun so I’m not sure about the weather there,” said Srihari on Monday evening.

“I’ll be competing in 10 events, five individual and five relays.”

But Monal Chokshi, the Swimming Federation of India’s general secretary, said the weather would not be a problem.

“That doesn’t look like it because the temperature control system is working well, right now the water temperature is 24-25 degrees,” said Chokshi.

Meanwhile, Sajan Prakash, who probably has the biggest collection of National Games medals — 26, including 14 gold – plans to do fewer swims here.