A
Fish Called Nisha
Call her water babe, call her mermaid, call her what you will-she will
always be a stroke ahead of you. At 17, Nisha Millet is the fastest
swimmer in the Indian women's aquatic contingent. Get in the deep with
this Piscean (what else!)...
By Mathang
and Apurvo Parthasarthy
How about your school
and stuff?
My schooling was done at various schools, but I passed out from Sophia's
High School. Right now, I am studying psychology at Mount Carmel College,
Bangalore. I used to be like any normal inquisitive kid, trying my hand at
every sport I came across. I still love to play basketball and badminton.
I was also into gymnastics for quite some time.
How did you get into
swimming?
At the age of nine my dad tried to teach me the basic strokes, but I could
only learn how to float. But in the process, I got very interested in
swimming, picked up all the strokes very quickly and developed great
affinity for the sport. Then I joined the Shenoy Nagar Aquatic Club's team
for all ages in Chennai. In the first year itself at the SNC, I beat most
of the boys in my age group! It was then that I identified this strength
of mine, and very religiously started working on it.
When did you first taste
victory?
I used to watch a lot of international aquatic events and developed a very
good technique. This was further polished by the professional training I
received from my then coach at SNC, Mr Chandrashekar. At the age of 10, in
1992, I won a bronze at the Sub-junior National Championship at
Thiruvananthapuram. After that, there was no looking back.
Why did you shift your
training centre from Chennai to Bangalore?
I became the Senior National Individual Champion in 1994, as I had
drastically improved my timing and technique to enter this category. But
in 1995, my timing started to stagnate and that year proved to be the
toughest in my career, till date. It was then that I realized the need for
better infrastructure and facilities-and moved down to Bangalore. My coach
here was Mr K C R, a top coach. The 50-metre pools were in top condition
and also, all the good swimmers throughout the country had come down to
Bangalore for training.
So did your
performance improve heaps?
The training at Bangalore was a great performance booster. The
excellent infrastructure and top coaches phenomenally spruced up my
technique and timing. The nine golds and one silver at the 1997 National
Games held at Bangalore certified my dramatic improvement.
On your record
performance at the National Games 1998 held at Imphal...
What a pleasantly surprising experience! I broke a cluster of nine records
at the meet and walked away as the only woman to snatch a record number of
14 golds and a silver medal! The water was freezing at Imphal and there
were no heaters in the pools!
About the scholarship
given to you by the IOC (International Olympics Committee)...
I was elated as well as astonished at this honour. I hardly expected this
to happen! You know, with this scholarship I have the opportunity to train
myself, at any aquatic centre of my choice, anywhere in the world, for a
period of one year ending August 2000. My training expenses will be borne
by the IOC. I'm looking at the Australian Institute of Sports, the Phoenix
Swim Club, Arizona, USA or the British Columbia University and Simon
Francis Universities which offer admission to academic courses besides a
slot in the swimming programme. My main object would be to improve my
middle-length freestyle swimming.
On your winning run at
the recently concluded SAF Games at Kathmandu...
I went for the games as a medal prospect, hence I was pretty happy with
bagging seven golds which are the highest ever by a woman at the SAF
games. I also created six SAF games records. Winning medals for my
country-now that's truly satisfying!
Your vibes about Indian
and foreign swimmers...
There is a marginal difference in talent, but a vast gap in other aspects.
Indian swimmers are physically weaker than the foreign contenders. The
foreign swimmers are literally bodybuilders, who train themselves on heavy
weights from the very beginning, which we don't. I'll have to be more
cautious with heavy weights as I have a bit of a shoulder problem. Abroad
training is gradual, whereas in India it is forced. That apart, they are
gifted with excellent infrastructure and facilities like scholarships and
grants more or less equally for all sports, unlike in India, where
corporates as well as the government concentrate mainly on cricket... and
just cricket. We swimmers have to literally hunt for sponsors to finance
our training!
Who have been your role
models?
Fransiska Van Almsik, Jenny Thompson and Gary Hann Junior on the
international circuit. Kazhan Singh and Anita Sood from India.
What's happening with
your training now?
Earlier this year, I joined the Basavangudi Aquatics Club, a premier
institute for Indian swimmers. My coach here, Mr Pradeep Kumar, has
trained me harder, which has further improved my timing. My current focus
is totally on the 2000 Olympics-I am confident of making the qualifying
time in the coming few months.
Where do you see
yourself in the next few years?
Well, I am practising hard right now to qualify for the 2000 Olympics, but
I definitely dream big about the 2004 Olympics. I plan to retire from the
professional circuit at the age of 26 and then specialize in sports
psychology. In another 20 years from now, touchwood, I see myself probably
training the best swimmers for international aquatic events.
Say something to
upcoming swimmers?
Well, I don't see myself qualified to give any advice, but my message is:
Take up swimming only if you love to swim and are not forced to do so.
This sport does involve rigorous training and hardship plus hard work and
dedication. You have to be physically and mentally strong. And the most
important rule, which applies to any sport, is that you must be psyched
up, but definitely not psyched out.
You vs other
17-year-olds...
As a college student, I am a little aloof from everyone else, but I guess
I am much more focused. Seven hours of swimming a day hardly gives me any
free time. I have a clear-cut schedule for my studies and swimming. I
carry my books to all the camps and outstation practice sessions and make
use of whatever time I get over there. But I must admit that I do not aim
for miracles such as being the topper!
nisha nets...
At 12, becomes the youngest ever senior national champion in aquatic
history at the Senior Nationals, Panjim, Goa.
1994:
Becomes the only Indian girl to win a gold in the 100-metre backstroke at
the Asia-Pacific Championships, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
1995: Bags
nine golds and a silver along with the IOA Trophy for the Best Sportswoman
of the Games at the National Games, Bangalore.
1996:
Becomes the only representative from India, ranked 32nd in the 100-metre
backstroke at the World Swimming Championships, Perth, Australia.
Creates two national records in 4x100
metres freestyle relay and 4x200-metre freestyle relay at the Asian Games,
Bangkok. Ranks 11th in the 200-metre freestyle and 14th in the 50-metre
freestyle at the same meet.
1999:
Grabs 14 golds and a silver plus the Best Sportswoman title of the Games
at the National Games, Manipur.
Wins 10 golds and two silvers at the Junior
Nationals, Jodhpur.
Wins two silvers and three bronzes along
with setting a new national record in 400-metre freestyle by eight seconds
at the Asia-Pacific Age Group Championships at New Delhi.
Snatches a record seven golds at the SAF
Games, Kathmandu, Nepal. Sets six SAF Games records and achieves the feat
of bagging the maximum number of golds ever won by a woman at the meet.
Nisha's Faves...
Food: Vadas, pizzas
Outfit: Jeans Drink: Sprite Mag: Teens Today (No jokes!) Place:
Goa Colour: Green Hobby: Listening to music Actor:
Will Smith Actress: Meg
Ryan Novel: The Client Author: John Grisham Vehicle:
Mitsubishi Lancer Favourite Bands: Prodigy, Third Eye Blind
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