| Artistic swimming in India | |
|---|---|
 Synchronised swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi | |
| Country | India |
| Governing body | Swimming Federation of India |
| National team(s) | [[India national Artistic swimming team|India]] |
Artistic swimming, also known as synchronized swimming, is a sport that combines swimming, acrobatics, and dance. While still developing in India, artistic swimming has a growing presence with national governing bodies recognizing its potential.
The exact origins of artistic swimming in India are unclear, but there have been sporadic appearances of the sport in recent decades. In the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, a team of three Indian artistic swimmers, Avani Kardam Dave, Kavita Kolapkar, and Bijal Vasant, participated. [1] Their participation marked a significant moment for the sport in India, despite facing challenges like lack of dedicated coaches. [1] [2]
The Swimming Federation of India (SFI) recognizes artistic swimming as a discipline under its purview. Their website includes a dedicated page for "Synchronized Swimming Events" which outlines eligibility and criteria for competitions. [3]
Artistic swimming in India faces developmental hurdles. Limited access to qualified coaches and training facilities can hinder the sport's growth. However, there are signs of progress. Private instructors offering lessons can be found in major cities. [4]
Infrastructure: The lack of sufficient training facilities and pools dedicated to artistic swimming poses a significant challenge. [5]
Funding: Limited financial support hampers the development and promotion of the sport. [5]
Awareness and Popularity: Artistic swimming is less popular compared to other sports like cricket, resulting in fewer resources and media attention. [5]
With growing awareness and increased access to resources, artistic swimming in India has the potential to attract a wider audience. The dedication of individual athletes and coaches can pave the way for future national teams to compete at international events.
Synchronized swimming or artistic swimming is a sport where swimmers perform a synchronized choreographed routine, accompanied by music. The sport is governed internationally by World Aquatics. It has traditionally been a women's sport, although FINA introduced a new mixed gender duet competition that included one male swimmer in each duet at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships and LEN introduced men's individual events at the 2022 European Aquatics Championships. From 2024, men will be able to compete in the team event at the Olympics.
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Aquatics GB is the national governing body of swimming, water polo, artistic swimming, diving and open water in Great Britain. Aquatics GB is a federation of the national governing bodies of England, Scotland, and Wales. These three are collectively known as the Home Country National Governing Bodies.
USA Swimming is the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States. It is charged with selecting the United States Olympic Swimming team and any other teams that officially represent the United States, as well as the overall organization and operation of the sport within the country, in accordance with the Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. The national headquarters of USA Swimming is located at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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India has a history of sports dating back to the Vedic period. Cricket is the most popular spectator sport; it generates the highest television viewership, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) being the most-followed league in the country. Football has also gained popularity, with the Indian Super League (ISL) being the highest level of domestic football, and the national team winning multiple gold medals at the Asian and South Asian Games. Additional football accomplishments include India having reached the Groupstage of the 1960 Olympics, qualified for the 1950 FIFA World Cup, and won the SAFF Championship. Other sports include kabaddi, badminton, tennis, and athletics, with kho-kho becoming the fourth-most viewed sport. India has also had success in field hockey, winning the World Cup and multiple medals in the Olympic Games. Sports such as golf, rugby, boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, motorsport, wrestling, and basketball are featured throughout the country.
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Aleksandr Evgenyevich Maltsev is a 4-time world champion and 6-time European champion in artistic swimming and a founder of men's artistic swimming in Russia. Aleksandr is the most titled male artistic swimmer in the world. He is recognized as the best male artistic swimmer in the world by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) and as the best male artistic swimmer in Europe by the European Swimming League (LEN).
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Artistic swimming competitions at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru are scheduled were held between July 29 and 31, 2019 at the Aquatics Centre in the Villa Deportiva Nacional Videna cluster.
Madhavi Latha is a para-athletics sportswoman who champions the cause of sports for persons with disabilities. She won three gold medals at the National Paralympic Swimming Championships and is also the founder of the Wheelchair Basketball Federation of India (WBI), India's national wheelchair basketball body. In 2011, she founded the Paralympic Swimming Association of Tamil Nadu, a non-governmental organization (NGO) which focuses primarily on inclusion in sports and the promotion of sports for people with disabilities.
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