New ASA head rallies behind swimmers after Dubai exploits

New Aquatic Sports Association (ASA) president Joe Caruana Curran yesterday reiterated his stance to double his efforts and provide more support to Maltese swimmers following their outstanding performance at the World Short Course Championships in Dubai, last month.

Caruana Curran, in his first meeting with the media since replacing Dr Austin Sammut as ASA head last month, showered praise on the 10 swimmers who formed part of Andy Colbourn’s national team after establishing a staggering 27 new national marks in the category.

The feat was achieved just a few weeks after the same group had lowered 18 other national records in a build-up meeting held in Berlin, Germany.

“I have only been in office for just over a month but I know the feat in Dubai was something to be proud of. I still cannot find words to describe the extraordinary achievements of these swimmers these past three months,” Caruana Curran said.

“The results achieved were a just reward to all the hard work the swimmers, their coach and the rest of the technical team have put in, making sure to keep the positive momentum going.

“We were really impressed with their commitment as well. The results were really encouraging so we intend to give them our full backing as swimming holds a crucial place in the development of aquatic sport on our shores.”

Caruana Curran said his first task in the job was to try and change the perception of many that swimming ranked behind waterpolo in the list of priorities for the ASA.

“It’s no secret that many reckon waterpolo gets more importance than the rest at the ASA,” Caruana Curran, who made his bow in sports administration as president of Valletta waterpolo club way back in the 1980s, said.

“Perhaps, this perception is conceived because waterpolo enjoys more exposure in the media given the huge rivalry that exists between the top clubs. But this has to change in future as we are now aware that there is potential among our swimmers and their development is crucial for our sport.

“We have plans in the pipeline which will be discussed in the coming weeks. These are entailed to help clubs attract more youngsters to the sport.”

Colbourn said the Dubai showing should be an ideal launch pad for the swimmers in the national team ahead of their major appointment for 2011 – the GSSE in Liechtenstein.

In Cyprus 2009, the all-girl Maltese team was composed of only five swimmers, namely, Davina Mangion, Nikki Muscat, Talisa Pace, Nicole Cremona and Melinda Sue Pace. However, this time round Colbourn is expecting a bigger team heading to Vaduz.

“I’m confident that for the Liechtenstein GSSE, we shall be fielding the biggest group of swimmers ever for these Games,” Colbourn said with an air of optimism.

“True, the times in Dubai were short course. However, when these are translated on the Olympic 50m distance most will be inside the Minimum Qualifying Standard set by the MOC for the 2011 GSSE.

“There are still five months to go before the final selection is announced but I have no doubt that we will be in a position to field very competitive teams, in both men and women categories.”

For the build-up to Liechtenstein, Colbourn said that the national team swimmers will compete in the traditional Easter meet, which will be held in April, but they are also planning to travel to Berlin in March and figure in a training camp in Italy under the auspices of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).

The GSSE will not be the only international event for the Maltese.

“We are also sending a team of eight swimmers to the World Championships in Shanghai at the end of July,” Colbourn said.

“Competing in China is a must as only those who make the trip to the Far East in summer will be eligible for qualification to the 2012 Olympics in London.”

Meanwhile, it was revealed yesterday that there were two nominations for the vacant posts of ASA secretary and vice-president responsible for waterpolo.

Martin Borg is the only candidate for the post of secretary while Alan Bonello was nominated for the vice-president’s seat. Their appointment will be made official during the association’s EGM scheduled for January 18.