Expecting 4-5 medals at the Asian Para Games: Para Swimming Head coach Dr Dabbas

Khel Today Bureau 

Gandhinagar: Head Coach of the Indian Para Swimming contingent Dr Virender Kumar Dabbas says that he expects at least four medals from his wards at the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games to be played from October 18 to 24, 2026.

While speaking to SAI Media during the ongoing preparatory camp in SAI NCoE, Gandhinagar, Dr Virender Kumar Dabbas picked para swimmer Rohit Kumar for special praise “Rohit(Kumar), a former MARCOS commando, started swimming just one and half years back, and he is already ranked second in Asia, he along with Himanshu Nandal and Ravi Karthik Budigina is among our best prospects. I expect this team to win at least four medals at the continental games.”

Members of the Indian para swimming contingent are undergoing a preparatory camp at the SAI NCoE, Gandhinagar from September 20- October 13, 2026.

Dr Dabbas, who also serves as the Chairman of Para Swimming in the Paralympic Committee of India(PCI) said that currently the focus of the camp is on building speed,”right now we are in the tapering phase, we are focusing on speed, working on having faster starts, sharper turns, yesterday we took note of the timmings our swimmers are clocking, with the (Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games) Games so close, we have to be on the last phase of training which is the tapering phase. Swimming coaching follows a particular trajectory, first we teach technique and work on the athlete’s stamina, then comes strength training, last we work on speed, without technique, stamina and strength then there will be no speed.”

He explained  that if India has to emerge as a serious sporting nation then sports has to be given equal weightage as academics in schools

“Right now the government is trying to ensure that the students get two games periods per week, what will be achieved in two periods in a week?. Also during these games periods, are they actually being taught sports ?. The physical education teachers just give a football or Volleyball to the students and that’s it, they don’t care to teach them anything, they have to be made accountable.”

“I was in East Germany during the late eighties for Masters in Science of Sports Training (not Ph.D.), there students would not be promoted in schools unless they passed gymnastics and swimming tests, sports was given equal if not higher weightage than academics.”

He stressed that if small children are to be developed into sports persons, the primary school teachers need to contribute in a big way

“Every teacher at the primary level must have a certain level of proficiency in sports, if the primary teacher is well versed in sports, and knows the measurements and rules related to various sports, that will be very helpful. He will be able to utilise even a small area for sports coaching. Also considering the paucity of sports equipment, they need to innovate, one football can also be used for volleyball, handball etc. That is how sports culture will be built.”

He praised the SAI, NCoE, Gandhinagar as an excellent centre for sports training “I have been coming here since long as I am a member of the Talent Identification Development Committee(TIDC), there has been a marked improvement under the stewardship of Coach Mayank Diwan and Coach Ravi Teja. The improvement is evident as the swimmers are clocking much better timings now. The centre serves high quality food, has good residential facilities and the players are supported by a sports science department. However, I feel there should be a small market inside the campus, consisting of a cafeteria with carrom, TT table where the athletes could socialise, relax and gel.”