Lifestyle, not results, is what sports should be.

• 31-year-old Olympian swimmer Sajan Prakash plans to slow pace up in preparation for the Asian championships in October and the Asian Games next year.

• Prakash took a six-month break after the Olympic qualification and decided to continue training at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) in Vijayanagar.

• He started training in February and went for the Mare Nostrum Tour in Barcelona in May.

• He is focusing on the World Police Games, World championships in Singapore, and the Asian championships in Ahmedabad this year.

• The ultimate target for Prakash is to swim 1:56.38 in the 200m butterfly, which he has been swimming since 2012.

• He aims to improve his best time to 1:56.38 for the Asian championships and 1:55 for the Asian Games.

• Prakash acknowledges the challenges of long-term injury and lack of a long-term athlete development program in India.

• He plans to enjoy the process for now and see where it takes him.

• Prakash acknowledges the need for support from various sources to fund his training and competitions.

Swimming in India: Challenges and Solutions

• The cost of swimming is high, with daily expenses for nutrition, club, and daily activities.

• The author’s mother supported him when he started professionally, and cash awards from Kerala for National Games performances helped him.

• The author wishes more corporates would invest in swimming development, as it has a high potential for medals.

• The author suggests the need for coaches’ development programs and a long-term plan for swimming.

• The author also discusses the lack of government support for swimming after a certain age or point.

• The author suggests a national training center and consistent training at one place.

• The author emphasizes the importance of addressing the weaknesses of swimmers and fostering a positive mindset.

• The author suggests that the current scientific support is not rocket science and that a national training center is needed.

• The author suggests a shift in nutrition to accommodate the carb-eating nation and a shift in mindset towards a lifestyle-oriented model of sports.