High drama confirms Mayumi and Lee for Olympics

Chris Dhambarage

In a dramatic turn of events the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union yesterday confirmed that Daniel Lee and Mayumi Raheem will represent Sri Lanka in swimming events as wildcard entries at the Beijing Olympic Games to be worked off in August this year.

The secretary of the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union Samantha Wickremasinghe stated that the two swimmers have been picked by the FINA which is the World Governing Body for swimming after having considered their performances during the past two years.

The FINA in a communiqu, issued to the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union has stated that they have selected these two swimmers in accordance with the FINA rule BL 8.3.6.2: relating to National Federations, National Olympic Committee's for swimmers who have not met the Olympic qualifying standards set by FINA.

The communique, further states that the regulation provides for the participation of one male and one female swimmer subject to the approval of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.

FINA having considered the performances of both Daniel Lee and Heshan Unamboowa who participated in last years World Championships have decided to select Daniel Lee for the 50 metres free style event.

Mayumi Raheem of course was compelled to withdraw from the World Championships at the last moment due to an injury. As such the FINA has taken into consideration the performances of Raheem in the earlier events and has decided to select her to compete in the 50 metres free style event.

However the Minister of Sports and Recreation Gamini Lokuge was surprised with the move and has called in for an immediate inquiry from the officials of the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union in connection to this matter Earlier the Sports Minister had appointed a three member committee to supervise the swimming trials between Mayumi Raheem and Miniruwani Samarakoon to be held at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool on Friday.

The special committee comprise of Swimming Interim Committee President DIG Sirisena Herath, Director General Sports D. B. Dahanayake and Director of Sports Science Institute B. L. H. Perera.