Triangular swimming meet in Kandy

Kandy Sports correspondent

SWIMMING: The inaugural Triangular Swimming meet between Rainbow Aquatic Club, Trinity College and Mahamaya Girls College will be worked off at the Hillwood College swimming pool in Kandy on February 16 and 17 commencing at 3 p.m. on the first day and at 9 a.m. on the second day.

This will be a age group swimming meet which will be worked off in the age groups of Under 12 (boys and girls), Under 14 (boys and girls), Under 16 (boys) Over 18 (boys and girls) and Open.

The Organising Committee comprising former Asian Games and Olympic swimmer Julian Bolling, Janaka de Silva and the local swimming coaches S.H. Pemlath and U.H. Sugath have finalised all arrangements.

The events will include 50 metre butterfly, 100 metre free style, 200 metre free style, 400 metre free style (Open only), 50 metre butterfly, 100 metre butterfly, 50 metre back stroke, 100 metre back stroke, 50 metre breast stroke, 100 metre breast stroke, 200 metre Individual Medley, 4 x 50 metre Free Style Relay, 4 x 50 metre Medley Relay.

According to the local organiser Janaka de Silva who is also the Senior Vice President of the Central Province Aquatic Sports Association (CEPASA) the number of events per individual will be restricted to five in the under 12 (boys and girls), under 14 (boys and girls), under 16 (boys), over 18 (boys and girls). However relays and the Open event will not be subject to this rule.

Rainbow Aquatic Club will be represented by some of the top swimmers like Menaka Karunaratne, Kushan de Silva, Dasun Perera, Methma Jayawardena, Cindy Nanayakkara, Ishak Prins, Roshika Udugampola which won the junior nationals.

Trinity College will have in its fold the most promising swimmer Shehan de Silva, national swimmers Heshan Unabmboowe, Dilina Dissanayake, Lakshitha Perera, Prageeth Wanigasekera, Chanuka Wickremasinghe, Migara Hulangamuwa, Imuditha Athurupana.

Mahamaya Girls College field a strong contingent in SAF Games medalist Hansani Weeratunga, Madhavi Weeratunga, Mihiri Kandanarachchi and Sunethra Wijeratne. The winning teams will be awarded with a challenge trophy and pendants. The overall Individual champions will be also awarded with pendants. All three top finishers in all events will be awarded certificates.

This first ever triangular contest will be virtually a contest between Colombo and Kandy swimmers with the cream of swimmers participating and top fare is in store for the spectators who should throng in their numbers.