Over 1,800 competitors for schools swimming meet

Leslie Fernando

SWIMMING: Keen competition is expected to prevail at the four day Senior and Junior Schools Swimming Championship, the major meet for school swimmers conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Aquatic Sports Association to be held from Thursday, September 20 to 23 at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming pool commencing at 8.30 a.m.

The championship is sponsored by Nestle Lanka Ltd 'Milo'.

There are 1,800 swimmers from 140 schools. They will swim in six age categories under-9, under-11, under-13, under-15, under-17 and under-19. Normal events will be worked and the heats will be in the morning session and the finals in the evening.

High standard of swimming is on the offing as all medal winners at the recently concluded 1st South Asian Swimming Championships held in Islamabad, Pakistan will be seen in action.

They are Heshan Unamboowe (Trinity), Mineka Karunaratne (Asian International School), Shehani Mediwake (Ladies College), Dilina Dissanayake (Trinity) Issac Prins, Chanaka Malibada (Ananda), Tuan Nabeel Dole (St. Benedict College), Dasun Perera (Royal), Punhasha Senanayake (Ananda), Pathum Edirisinghe (Ananda), Sakitha Wickremaratne (S. Thomas' College), Pranee Udumalagala (St. Joseph's College), Yahan Samarajeewa (Royal), Gayan Samarakoon (Nalanda), Shasika Perera (St. Joseph's College), Chanuka Wickremasinghe (Trinity), Chamari Kudabalage (Hillwood College), Gihara Amarasinghe (Southland College, Galle), Miniruwani Samarakoon (Gateway IS, Kandy), Hansani Weerathunga and Madhavee Weerathunga (Mahamaya College), Methma Jayawardena (Musaeus College), Udari Mendis (Gateway IS Kandy), Dehara Katipearachchi (Musaeus College), Sunethra Wijeratne (Mahamaya College), Charani Perera (Sujatha Vidyalaya), Mihin Kandanarachchi (Mahamaya College).

All age group winners will be selected (both boys and girls) and trophies will be presented. There will be trophies on offer to the overall Junior boys and girls champions, overall senior boys and girls champions.