Exciting Waterpolo games on the cards

Leslie FERNANDO

Interesting and exciting matches are on the cards with the National Waterpolo Championships for men, women junior boys and girls starting today, November 1 at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool commencing at 8.30 a.m. The matches will continue tomorrow as well.

Today the men’s and women’s preliminary round games will be worked off. The teams in the fray are defending champions MAS Sports Club, Royal, S. Thomas’ College, RCUAC, Otter AC, Kinross Swimming and Life Saving Club, Old Thomian Swimming Club, Sri Lanka Air Force (Men’s). In the Women’s holders Visakha Vidyalaya, Ladies College, Sri Lanka Air Force, Anula Vidyalaya, Bishop’s College, St. Bridget’s Convent will battle it out.

MAS Sports Club with several Sri Lanka players in their rank will go flat out to retain the David Vast Challenge Trophy. But Royal the undisputed SLASU ‘A’ Division, and schools champions who lifted the R.L. Hayman Trophy on October 18 is tipped to win the Men’s title. Thomians who made good come back in the 2nd leg of the R.L. Hayman Trophy is expected fare well.

According to Nethru Nanayakkara, chairman organising committee, National Swimming and Diving Championships, the Interim Committee of SLASU now have finalised the new dates of the championship.

The Nationals were postponed twice due to conditions effecting the Sugathadasa stadium pool facilities due to bad weather. Nethru said we have now advanced the dates of the championships due to the schools and ‘O’ Level examinations.

Synchrousied swimming

Today, Sunday the Synchronised swimming competition will be held at the Visakha Vidyalaya Swimming pool from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Swimming and Diving

The swimming and diving championship both national and junior will be held on November 13,14 and 15 at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool.

Thirty eight events including six relays will be worked off for both men and women in the swimming championship.

All heats and preliminaries will be held during the morning session commencing at 8.30 a.m. All finals will be held in the afternoon session starting at 2.30 p.m.

Diving

There will be one metre, three metre springboard diving and platform 5 1/2 metres, 7 1/2 metres and 10 metres. All diving events commence at 9.30 a.m. each day.