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Dubai: UAE top swimmer Obaid Al Jasmi has called on the Government to start preparing for the 2010 Fina World Swimming Championships now.
Dubai will host the 10th Fina World Swimming Championships in April 2010.
Al Jasmi, who represented the UAE in the last two Olympics and World Championships, said the nation needed to start work now in order to be successful in the championships.
He said: "Most of the swimmers are in peak condition at the moment following the summer training camp and the Gulf Swimming Championships.
"So now will be the best time to start our preparations for the World Championships.
"There is talk that we may have as many as eight swimmers taking part in this competition as we are the hosts.
"Hence it is also very important that we start our preparations right now."
Al Jasmi said some of the Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have been sending their swimmers to the US in the past few years.
He added: "That's the place to be, and I don't see any reason why we cannot also go to the US and start training for this prestigious competition."
Top coach
The UAE does have a coach, American Jay Benner, who is considered among the best.
The 43-year-old Benner was one of the finalists for the United States Olympic Committee 2006 Developmental Coach of the Year award and he was named USA Swimming Coach of the Year in 2005.
Al Jasmi said: "I am so fully committed to my sport. I want to improve and the only way I can do so is by looking towards the US for training.
"It would be of tremendous help if the government seriously starts looking at this suggestion," he added.
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