SA Games swimming squad reduced to 14

Bernard Perera

Seventeen swimmers were selected from the trials held in October to represent the country at the forthcoming South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Three swimmers who were originally selected Udara Kumaratunga (Vishaka Vidyalaya), Althaf Yakoob and Rasika Chalanga have been dropped from the team. This was done as the organisers have limited the number of competitors for the 100 metres Breast Stroke and 100 metres Individual Medley. Earlier Althaf Yakoob and Rasika Chalanga too were to compete along with Diluk Thibbotuwa and Heshan Unamboowa in the respective events.

Yesterday the selection committee conducted a second trial to check the performances of the swimmers at St. Joseph's College pool. At this trial Gihaha Amerasinghe from Southlands Balika Vidyalaya, Galle has beaten Udara Kumaratunga in the 50 metres Back Stroke.

With her victory she has been included in the relay squad for the 100 metres Breast Stroke event along with Induruwani Samarakoon, Mineka Karunaratne and Rishika Udugampola.