Rowers Amenthi and Guyan to train in China

Richard DWIGHT

The sustained enthusiasm and interest displayed for the sport of rowing by the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) and the achieved progress - has made the right kind of impression for the International Rowing Federation (FISA), along with ‘Olympic Solidarity’ to extend for the first time an invitation for a team from Sri Lanka to be trained in Shanghai, China, just before the Olympic Trials for the Asian sector.

FISA, the world governing body for rowing has required that the team be comprised the national coach along with a male oarsman and a female oarswoman between the ages of 18 to 25 years.

The two rowers, apart from the national coach, Lakmal Wickremage selected were the talented promising sculler Guyan Jayaratne and Amenthi Weerasinghe.

Both won their respective open sculls event at the last rowing nationals, which formed the basis for selection by the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka and approved by FISA. Guyan Jayaratne is the former Anandian and current Colombo Rowing Club Sculler, who being an experienced sculler has represented Sri Lanka at the Junior Asian Rowing Championships in 2006 and 2007 and the Asian Games in 2006.

Amenthi Weerasinghe of Ladies College has maintained consistent by winning local races and the experience of having participated at the Junior Asian Rowing Championships in 2006 accompanying the two scullers who will be undergoing training in China from April 15 to 24 will be the national coach Lakmal Wickremage.

In order to foster and promote rowing here, the ARASL has since 2002 been participating at the Asian Games and the Asian Rowing Championships through its teams.

The interest progress and improvements made by our teams have been well noted by the Asian Rowing Federation and FISA and the fact that Sri Lanka successfully hosted the rowing events at the 10th South Asian Games in Colombo in 2006 over a 2,000 m rowing course has stood Sri Lanka in good stead to find favour.