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Dubai: Italian Valerio Cleri feels no pressure as he starts the hot favourite for this weekend's Fina 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup to be held in Ras Al Khaimah.
The Ras Al Khaimah race is the second round on the eight-race Fina 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup.
Cleri won the opening round held in Santos, Brazil leaving Evgeny Drattsev of Russia and Allan Do Carmo in second and third places.
"I am not putting myself under pressure because I am treating this race as a preparation for Sevilla," Cleri told Gulf News.
Around 20 swimmers, who have arrived early in Dubai to acclimatise, went for a training session to the open beach in Al Mamzar yesterday.
Hard work
Ten male and ten women swimmers will automatically qualify as the top 10 finishers in the 10K race at the 2008 Fina World Open Water Swimming Championships to be held in Seville, Spain in May. "I hope I can win in Dubai, but honestly, the result will not be of prime importance to me as my sights are set on Seville," Cleri stated. The 27-year-old Cleri, coached by Emanuele Sacchi won in a time of one hour, 58:42.10 minutes in Brazil's opening round. Cleri has been practicing regularly with an eye on the Beijing Olympic Games.
"He is in good form and has been putting in a lot of hard work since the race in Santos," Sacchi said.
But he will have to contend with a strong Russian contingent that includes Evgeny Drattsev [who was second in Brazil] and Brazilian Allan Do Carmo. "He looks in good shape and should be there among the top finishers," said Brazilian team manager Antonio Mariante.
In the women's section, the Russians, Italians and the Germans are always the favourites. With Santos winner Larissa Ilchenko (Russia), Kirsten Groome (US) and Germany's Angela Maurer and Britta Kamrau coming in a day later, much of the attention was on Brazilian lass Poliana Oktmoto.
The 10km Fina Marathon Swimming World Cup has attracted a field of 75 swimmers from 23 countries, and will be held in Ras Al Khaimah on March 15.
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