Zakaria to instruct trainers in canoeing

Richard Dwight

Sports associated with canoeing that includes kayaking too will receive a tremendous boost, when the certified international coach, Zakaria Mahmoudi, of the World’s Canoe Federation directs, assists and guides local trainers and athletes in canoeing currently on the Bolgoda lake.

The reputed, Zakaria, who hails from Tunisia holds a masters degree in canoeing and is in charge of the development of canoeing in Africa and Asia. This apart he has been actively involved in competitions for kayaking and canoeing for Tunisia and, did as well qualify for the world championships.

This visit of Zakaria to the island has been initiated by the National Association for Canoeing and Kayaking Sri Lanka of which, Sithira Wickramasekera is the President (NACKSL).

It has also had the active support and patronage of Deva Henry, the Vice President of the National Olympic Committee and the International Canoe Federation (ICF) – with the entire exercise coming under the Olympic Solidarity Assistance Programme (OSA) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

As a forerunner to the coaching sessions that will take place in the days that follow, Zakaria made a preliminary power presentation on Thursday at the Ran Mal Hotel.

His brief narrative on the history of canoeing and kayaking was aptly informative. He did deal descriptively of the intricacies that go to make canoeing and kayaking exciting to be thrilling.

The difference between the two is that in canoeing – one assumes a high knee poasition and uses a single paddle with great speed, whilst in kayaking, one assumes a seated position and uses a double paddle.

According to Zakaria all charges coming under his four day training programme will receive an international certificate and a CD as a gift from him. Sithira and the Vice President of NACKSL, Chanaka Talpahewa, were highly impressed with the power presentation and were convinced that the trainers will benefit much from this programme also associated with the entire exercise was the Chairman of the Canoe and Kayaking, Prithi Perera and Lasantha Welikala.

Zakaria was highly taken up by the island’s beauty and its hospitable people that’s making his stay most enjoyable to be pleasant. He was appreicative of the hard work put in to prepare a good training course on the Bolgoda lake and felt it had the potential to hold international competitions here.

Zakaria was most thankful to all those who assisted to make his visit here a reality.