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| Sunday, 7 April 2002 |
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New NAASU chief out to promote aquatic sport in a big way by LESLIE FERNANDO My main aim is to develop and promote swimming in the outstations as there is lot of hidden talent. Furthermore, NAASU will make all arrangements to promote swimming in a big way in Jaffna and also in the North and East by conducting several learn-to-swim campaigns said Rear Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, the newly elected President of National Amateur Aquatic Sports Union of Sri Lanka (NAASU) in an interview with the 'Sunday Observer' at the Naval Headquarters on Friday. Rear Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, the Director General Operations of the Sri Lanka Navy was one of the top swimmers produced by Ananda. Wasantha captained the Ananda swimming and waterpolo teams and he excelled in back stroke, his pet event. He has been a winner at the National Championships and also represented Sri Lanka in several international meets. Wasantha has regularly participated in the Mt. Lavinia two-mile sea swim and has always been amongst the first five to finish the course. The NAASU chief said that they have a dynamic and professional team will see that aquatic sports, especially swimming and waterpolo will hit the top in a couple of years as there is good future for both categories in Sri Lanka. The future of swimming, diving and waterpolo like other sports belong to the schools. The schools are the pioneering and breeding ground for the national swimmers, divers and waterpolo players of tomorrow, said the swimming chief. If Ambalangoda can produce top class swimmers why not other places? This is due to lack of awareness of interest in the sport and also due to lack of facilities. NAASU will draw up a comprehensive plan to improve the standard of swimming by way of creating interest amongst the swimmers from other schools. NAASU will provide all facilities, send coaches and also conduct several meets in other areas. The school coaches will be offered an opportunity to undergo coaching courses conducted by FINA (World Controlling Body for Aquatic Sports) in Colombo. NAASU will also set up new clubs in the outstations and separate administrative units will be opened. Karannagoda said that several tanks and rivers are available for outstation swimmers, but what they lack are the experienced coaches to guide them. NAASU will soon will provide the coaches to train the swimmers. "I hope to appoint a controller each for swimming, diving, waterpolo, synchronised swimming. In turn, each controller will elect a sub-committee to carry on with their promotional work. We will continue the program implemented by the earlier regime. In fact, I will be looking to get their utmost assistance to improve the sport to greater heights," said Karannagoda. He said that every effort would be made to see that affiliated clubs conduct open meets and NAASU will offer all the assistance. In a couple of weeks, NAASU will send a team of official to Jaffna and other parts of North and East to conduct several learn-to-swim campaigns. NAASU hopes appeal to swimming bans to open new clubs and register with NAASU. NAASU also intends getting down a foreign coach for both swimming and waterpolo. A selection trial will be held to pick swimmers for the training squad in preparation for the 2003 SAF Games to be held in Pakistan. Free and fair selection procedure will be followed. The best will be picked by the NAASU selection committee. NAASU is thankful to the principal sponsor for aquatic sports - Bank of Ceylon. The new NAASU chief said that he will meet the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Johnston Fernando and request him to grant permission for the national swimmers, divers and the waterpolo players to train at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Complex without any fee as the country will benefit from their performances in international meets. |
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