Local Swimmers Rally for Free Access to Yemmekere Pool: A Call for Community Support!

The swimming pool facility at Yemmekere in Mangaluru.
| Photo Credit: File Photo

Mahesh Kodikal is the parent of three children, two of whom — 15-year-old Poorvi and 12-year-old Charvi — have received honors in state and national swimming competitions. Since the closure of Mangaluru City Corporation’s Mangala Swimming Pool five months ago, Mr. Kodikal has been investing ₹8,000 each month on the training of his two daughters and his six-year-old son at the international-standard swimming pool in Yemmekere, Mangaluru.

“At Mangala pool, the MCC waived the usage fees for swimmers who secured medals at the national and state level, allowing my daughters to train there at no cost. As Mangala swimming pool is still undergoing repair work, I’ve been paying pool fees of ₹1,000 each month for the evening training sessions of my two daughters at the Yemmekere pool,” he stated. A total of 30 swimming competitors incur these fees for practice at the facility, he mentioned.

Mr. Kodikal indicated that the Yemmekere pool has been built by Mangaluru Smart City Ltd. utilizing smart city funds from the Union government. “The allowances provided to swimming athletes at Mangala stadium ought to be extended to the Yemmekere pool as well,” he remarked.

Inaugurated in November 2023, the Yemmekere swimming pool complex features three pools – a 10-lane 50mx25m pool, a 5-lane practice pool, and a children’s pool. It also includes a gym, restrooms, and various amenities for swimmers on the first floor. Since March, We One Aqua has been managing the pool. They recently acquired a lease from MSCL for the operation and maintenance of the facility for seven years. Swimmers are charged ₹3,500 per month for coaching, which includes ₹1,000 for pool usage. The general public is charged ₹100 per hour for swimming.

Shirley Rego, an experienced swimmer and mother of talented swimmers Alaister Rego and Aliyssa Rego, mentioned that many individuals in Mangaluru and Coastal Karnataka are natural swimmers. “If pool fees are made more accessible, it will enable skilled young swimmers, who excel in sea and river swimming, to dedicate more time to the competition pool at Yemmekere and succeed in state and national events,” she commented.

Ms. Rego emphasized the necessity for the State government to invest additional resources to develop Yemmekere pool as a Centre for Excellence in Swimming.

Deputy Director of Youth Services and Sports Pradeep D’Souza stated that a proposal to waive pool charges for swimming athletes at Yemmekere pool will soon be presented to the District Stadium Committee led by Deputy Commissioner M.P. Mullai Muhilan.