India tops South Asian swimming
Leslie FERNANDO reporting from Pakistan
SWIMMING: Sri Lanka ended up in third position in the men open
category and was placed second in the age group under-14 in the final
standings of the 1st South Asian Swimming Championships conducted by the
Pakistan Swimming Federation and concluded on Saturday night at the
Jinnah Sports Complex swimming pool here.
In the men’s open events Sri Lanka swimmers collected 113 points
winning 2 gold, 7 silver and 6 bronze medals.
India came on top with 188 points, 17 gold, 8 silver, 2 bronze,
Pakistan in second position with 125 points, 4 silver, 11 bronze, Nepal
fourth with 16 points and Maldives fifth with 3 points. Both Nepal and
Maldives failed to win a single medal.
Sri Lanka secured the runner-up position in the age group with 79
points, 4 silver and 5 bronze, Pakistan third 60 points, 2 silver and 3
bronze and Maldives 12 points and Nepal no points.
Maldives and Nepal did not win a single medal. India in first place
with 144 points, 12 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze.
Sri Lanka swimming captain Heshan Unamboowe became the best swimmer
for the country when he won his fourth silver in the 100m back stroke -
1.00.73 secs. in the men’s events worked off on Saturday.
Two more silver medals were won by the 4x100 meters medley relay
open. The relay quartet composed of Chanaka Malimbada, Heshan Unamboowe,
Yahan Samarajeeva and Chanuka Wickremasinghe timed 4.12.90 secs. and
Praneeth Udumalagala, Kasun Wickremaratne, Issac Prins and Sashika
Perera won the other silver in the 4x100m medley relay with a time of
4.39.28 secs.
Meanwhile Chanaka Malimbada and Sashika Perera won a bronze each,
Chanaka in the 50m breast stroke on - 32.15 secs. and Sashika in 50m
free style under-14 - 27.77 secs. Heshan came in fourth in the 100m free
style open - 56.16 secs. and Chanuka Wickremasinghe, sixth in the same
event - 57.53 secs. Diluka Thibbotumunuwe fifth in 50m breast stroke
open - 33.39 secs. Kasun Wickremaratne fifth in 50m free style under-14
- 28.26 secs.
Heshan Unamboowe showed his supremacy in all his events participate
winning 2 gold medals, 4 silver and one bronze. He also had two silvers
in the two relays 4x100m and 4x200m free style and medley relay
respectively. Heshan’s performance at the championships is very
creditable and is certain to bring more laurels to the country in the
future international competitions.
ISLAMABAD, Saturday |
