Shamika Mittal, the Girls’ Swimming Team captain, was interviewed by the BOSM English Press and shared insights into the team’s preparations, the challenges they faced, and her journey in the sport.

Shamika explained the differences between swimming rules at BOSM and international standards. For instance, the requirement to dive into the pool is not enforced at BOSM due to insufficient pool depth. Similarly, flips at the end of each lap are not mandated due to participants’ varying proficiency levels in this technique. Another difference is that the event is conducted in multiple sessions due to the pool size of only six swimmers at a time. She highlighted that this BOSM will feature an array of swimming formats, including 50, 100, and 400 metres, and different strokes such as freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly.

Shamika provided insight into the team’s preparations by mentioning that they practice daily at 5:30 AM. She acknowledged the associated difficulties but reaffirmed the team’s commitment to delivering their finest performance at BOSM. Comparing this year’s preparations to previous years, she expressed optimism regarding the team’s performance. With additional training time, particularly for first-year students, the team is better prepared and expects improved results.

The inaccessibility of the BITS swimming pool posed a significant obstacle for the team, forcing them to practice at an off-campus pool. This situation presents logistical difficulties and discourages some prospective swimmers from joining the team. She also noted that the absence of on-campus matches affects the team’s crowd support during the fest. Despite these challenges, the Girls’ Swimming Team succeeded last year by winning awards at IIT Bombay’s tournament. Shamika proudly stated that one of their team members secured a medal in the 100-metre freestyle event.

Shamika mentioned that she has been a swimmer for more than fifteen years now. She envisions a brighter future for the team if the BITS swimming pool becomes operational and anticipates the team’s continued growth. She reflected that being a team member has taught her valuable lessons in coordination, emphasizing the significance of encouraging team members to maintain their practice schedules, particularly for early morning sessions.

In conclusion, Shamika’s message to BITSians for BOSM 2023 was unambiguous—support the Girls’ Swimming Team, even if it requires travel to an off-campus pool. She added that she would appreciate the support, as it would acknowledge the barriers they overcame.