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EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, AUG 23: ``Sebastian Xavier is the fastest swimmer in the country and he should have got the Arjuna Award,'' said the once fastest Indian swimmer, Khazan Singh. Khazan was commenting on the 1998 award being given to Delhi's Bhanu Sachdeva, leading to protests by Xavier.
Khazan said while he was happy that a swimmer had finally got an Arjuna Award after nine years, the politicking that has shrouded this award was not good for the sport. ``Let me put it this way,'' he said. ``There is no doubting that Bhanu is good at backstroke. That is not Xavier's event, for he is basically a free-styler. But, Sebastian can also do the backstroke, though they have never competed against each other. And, he is very good at other styles also and fast. So if Bhanu was being given the award, Sebastian should have got it too.''
``Though both have been nominated and turned down before, to deny Xavier is not right.''
Khazan lashed out at the government, saying they had simply no idea of what was happening in anyfederation. ``The Swimming Federation of India really has no say in the matter. A sportsperson can put up his own case if he wants. But who decides finally? There is just no yardstick for anything and they do not care.''
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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