A TEAM of 20 South African swimmers will be in action at the IPC swimming world championships in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, from August 15-21.

The squad will be accompanied by manager Daphne Bird, coach Theo Verster and 10 other administrative personnel.

Among the top swimmers in the line-up are paralympics ace Natalie du Toit, recently in action at the world open water championships in Canada, rising Port Elizabeth star Kevin Paul and shark-bite victim Achmat Hassiem.

A total of 659 athletes from 55 different countries will be competing, one of the largest contingents of any previous championships.

The meeting is vital for South Africa’s swimmers as these are the first stages of the long qualification process for the next Olympic Games in London, 2012.

The SA team is: Sarah Shannon, Adri Visser, Beth Nothling, Chad Gifford, Hendrik van der Merwe, Sibusiso Mogale, Christiaan du Plessis, Natalie du Toit, Emily Gray, Achmat Hassiem, Kevin Paul, Shireen Sapiro, Charl Bouwer, Renette Bloem, Sean Clarke, Craig Groenewald, Hendri Herbst, Marike Naude, Challis Wright, Yvonne Smith. – Sapa