Water sports to add colour

Navy Cup 2013 in Nuwara Eliya on April 15 :

Anuradha Abeysekera

Sri Lanka Navy in collaboration with Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council will conduct the Navy Cup water sports extravaganza on April 15 in Gregory lake, bringing water sports thrill to Little England during this summer season.

With the great success of last year's water sports competition in Gregory Lake the organizers have made arrangements to include more exciting events this time. Six main competitions including 130 HP and below slalom, above 130 HP slalom, kayak, 130 HP and below jet ski sprint, above 130 HP jet ski sprint, under-15 age category optimist sailing along with exhibition wind surfing, Small Boat Squadron boat display and water ski display events are on card to entertain the crowds.

The events will be commenced at 8.30 am and will be completed by 2.30pm after the award ceremony. The Navy Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Damayantha Dharmasiriwardena said that they are highly impressed with the first event's success in Nuwara Eliya last year and arrangements have been made to stage the Navy Cup water sport 2013 in a grand scale. “There were a less number of participants around 15-20 last year, but we have already received over 35 entries to date for this year. Entries are open till the last moment as we hope to include as much as competitors,” he explained.

Rear Admiral also said that they have identified several inland water tanks as appropriate water sporting venues including Tissa Wewa, Diyawanna oya and many outstation tanks in order to popularize water sport through out the country.

Navy's Sports Director Commodore J. D. Amaranayake revealed that there have been few requests from international competitors to take part in Navy Cup 2013, but as we do not posses the international license, we decided to confine the competitions for locals. He also said that they have received most number of entries from around the Bolgoda lake this time for the Nuwara Eliya event where sailing and water skiing have become very popular in recent times. Sri Lanka's champion wind surfer Thushal Gunawardena who has joined hands with Navy to popularize water sports in Sri Lanka was of the view that after the dawn of peace in the country, inland water tanks and sea around the island are now can be used for water sports with no restrictions and water sports will be among country's most popular sports very soon. He thanked Carlton Sports Network for pioneering in taking water sports to inland waters of Sri Lanka which is now rapidly spreading all over the country.

There will be ample spectator ares and facilities arranged by the organizers for spectators around the Gregory lake as a huge crowd is expected to be there during this summer season.

The Navy Cup 2913 water sports competition will be a thrilling experience for both competitors and spectators while being a must not to miss by the visitors to little England during this festive season.

Attractive awards, cash prizers and return air tickets to overseas destinations are on offer for the lucky winners of contests.