KARACHI: Haseeb Tariq is focusing on just the shortest distance of the long course this time.

At the last edition of the Commonwealth Games in Australia, the 26-year-old was the only swimmer from Pakis­tan to advance from his heat in the 50 metres backstroke.

Haseeb couldn’t advance to the final but at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, which open on Thursday, he’s aiming to do better as he takes part in three 50m events — the butterfly, backstroke and freestyle.

“I’m focused on the sprint aspect this year having competed in the 100 free at the Tokyo Olympics last year,” Haseeb told Dawn during a telephone interview from Birmingham on Tuesday. “The aim is to improve on power and speed and my times in the 50m. That will naturally help me over the longer distance.”

Haseeb will compete in the 50m fly heats on the first day of the competition at the Games on Friday with the heats in backstroke and the freestyle to follow on July 31 and Aug 2.

“The aim is to at least reach the semi-finals in each of the events and then we will take it from there,” said Haseeb, who holds multiple national records in the sport. “And of course I’ll try to improve my previous marks.”

Haseeb began competitive swimming at the age of 14 and his success at the 2012 National Games thrust him into the national fold.

Moving to Canada at the age of 17, he’s been able to gain access to better coaching and facilities unlike swimmers who are based in Pakistan. “In Pakistan, swimming is largely considered a seasonal sport while it’s a year-round sport globally,” he said about the local mindset. “Coaches in Pakistan don’t have the technical knowledge of what needs to be done.

“The only obsession is with power and speed and nothing is done to improve technique. Swimming is a passion-driven sport. It requires hours in the pool, work in the gym. It drains you. But if you have that passion, you keep going.”

Haseeb isn’t stopping. The 2024 Paris Olympics are in his sights as well as next year’s World Championships in Japan. But that could see him missing out on the Asian Games, which were postponed this year.

“The Worlds [in Japan] are the most important for me looking ahead to next year,” Haseeb informed, looking back to the exposure he got at the 2019 edition in South Korea where he got the opportunity to rub shoulders with the global swimming elite, including the man he idolises — American star Caeleb Dressel.

“It was an experience unlike anything. Competing against the best in the world helps you learn further technicalities of the sport … how you maintain stroke rate and heart rate and about warm-ups and activation.”

Potentially missing out on the Asian Games doesn’t concern Haseeb and he doesn’t believe there is a bigger chance of Pakistan winning its maiden swimming medal in any multi-sport event when the Games open in China next year.

“The swimming disparity between Asia and the rest of the world doesn’t exist anymore,” Haseeb said. “Swimmers from Japan and China are right up there with the best in the world. So as far as competition is concerned, it’s the same.”

As far as immediate competition is concerned, Haseeb believes the Commonwealth Games will set the tone for his road to Paris qualification. “There is going to be a lot of depth as far as competition is concerned,” he said. “Australia and England are the traditional swimming powerhouses at the Commonwealths and they will come with their best swimmers but I’ll try to give my best.”

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2022