Final swimming trial for SAF Games May 23 to 27
 

by Leslie Fernando

The Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union has decided to hold the final trial to pick swimmers to represent Sri Lanka at the 10th South Asian Games to be held in Colombo in August. The trial will be from May 23 to 27 at the Sugathadasa Stadium pool.

Samantha Wickremasinghe, Secretary Interim Committee of SLASU said that it will be a five day trial. There will be events in the morning sessions (heats) and evening session (finals).

It will be similar to the South Asian Games swimming programme. Wickremasinghe added that the swimmers will get accustomed a five-day meet.

According to swimmers current performances Sri Lanka should be able to win more medals at the South Asian Games.

Danielle Lee who is in Australia will train with his own coach, Andrew Abeysinghe is presently training in the USA while Mayumi Raheem is training in Singapore.

Lee, Raheem and Abeysinghe represented Sri Lanka at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne while Lee and Raheem also participated at the 8th FINA World Short Course Swimming Championship in Shanghai, China last month.

Lee set new Sri Lanka records in the 50,100, and 200 metres free style while Raheem established new Sri Lanka records in the 50 and 100 metres free style, 50 and 100 metres breast stroke, 50 metres back stroke and 50 metres butterfly stroke.

The events to be held at the trials are free men: style (50,100,200,400,1500 metres), back stroke (50,100,200 metres), breast stroke (50,100,200 metres), individual medley (200 and 400 metres). Women - free style - (50,100,200,400,800 metres), back stroke (50,100,200 metres), breast stroke (50,100,200 metres), individual medlay (200,400 metres).

The swimmers for free style and medley relays will be selected by the panel of coaches according to their performances in the different strokes.