July 27, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr
Osman Kamara after his Personal Best (PB) of 26.90 sec in Brazil
Secretary General of Sierra Leone Swimming, Diving and Water-Polo Association, Mohamed Abdul Turay has backed his vice-captain; Osman Kamara to reduce his Personal Best (PB) time of 26.90 sec in the 50 meters freestyle on Friday.
The 28-year old will take the pool on Friday at the ongoing FINA World Aquatic Championship in Budapest, Hungary and has already got the backing of his scribe.
Kamara recorded the 26.90 sec during his heat two (2) qualifying at the Rio Olympic Games in Brazil in August, 2016, in Brazil and almost a year after such success; he is in line for another success despite his poor show last Sunday in the 50m Butterfly after finishing 33.70 sec.
According to the Sierra Leone Swimming Association secretary general, Mohamed Abdul Turay, Osman best performance always comes from the freestyle stroke.
“I think his late start from the block was an impediment to his performance on Sunday but I believe he will give a better performance in the freestyle on Friday,” Turay said.
Already, Kamara’s countryman, Morris Beale, sets a new personal best of 35.13sec in the Men’s 50m breaststroke at the Championship on Tuesday after he competed in heat 3 from lane 7.
Beale, whose previous entry time was 39.89 sec was up against top rated swimmers and despite his new personal best, he was unable to qualify from the heat but was ranked 75 out of 84 competitors.
The swimmer said after the race: “My wish was to qualify for the semi-final but it turned out to be the other way as I swam with swimmers that have competed in different championship whiles I was the only one in that heat who depended on local training.”
Meanwhile, Beale will battle in the 50m backstroke on Saturday, while female swimmer, Bunturabie Jalloh will take the pool on Saturday to challenge in the preliminaries of the women’s 50m freestyle and 50m breaststroke events.