Matthew, Reshika set new Sri Lanka records

Sajeewa JAYAKODY

Sri Lanka’s two outstanding swimmers, Reshika Udugampola and Matthew Abeysinghe set up two national records in the Selection Trial for the 15th World Swimming Championship and fourth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, conducted at the Sugathadsa Stadium Swimming Complex on March 15 and 16.

Killer Whale Aquatics’ Matthew Abeysinghe clocked 52.29 in the 100m freestyle event to record the best time ever by any nationality swimmer in Sri Lanka, breaking the previous best time of 52.71 set by Virdhaval Khade of India at the 2006 South Asian Games, in Sri Lanka.

Olympian Udugampola, representing Killer Whale Aquatics, timed 1.09.44 in the 100m butterfly event erasing the previous record of 1.09.61 set by Miniruwani Samarakoon in September 2009.

Udugampola’s superb time in the women’s 100m freestyle, recorded as the fastest time by any Sri Lankan swimmer anywhere in the world.

The Lankan swimmers will be participating in the 15th World Championship at Barcelona, Spain from July 9 to August 4 this year and the fourth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, from June 29 to July 6 in Incheon, Korea. The Selection Trial for the both meets, to be continued in April at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Complex and the final squad will be chosen prior to the Sinhala New Year.