Nine - member Sri Lanka team for Asian Junior Rowing

by Leslie Fernando

Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) has named a nine-member rowing team (seven girls and two boys) to represent Sri Lanka at the 12th Asian Junior Rowing Championships to be held from July 12 to 15 on the Lower Seletar Regatta Course in Singapore.

Minoli Wijesinghe, Secretary, ARASL told the 'Sunday Observer' that the names will be submitted to the Sports Ministry for approval. She added that the rowers were selected on their performances for the year 2005-2006.

Amanthi Weerasinghe, Gayani Boteju, Savani Dissanayake, Shiyana Welikala, Shadeena Mendis (all of Ladies College), Danushi Rodrigo and Dimitri Thilakasundara (both of Bishop's College), Muditha Jayasinghe (Royal), Kanishka Jayaratne (Ananda) are the rowers selected.

The girls will participate in the sculls and double-sculls while the two boys will participate in the scull, double sculls and coxless pairs.

Wijesinghe added that all events will be rowed 2000 metres (Beira Water races are 1000 metres). This will be the first time that the junior rowers will represent Sri Lanka in an international regatta.

The junior rowers will train on the Beira Water on two sessions, morning and evening under their coach Johann Corera. She said that all rowers participating in the championships will be either 18 years or below as at 31 December 2006 as required by the rules.

The Singapore Rowing Association will be hosting the championships and the Asian Amateur Rowing Federation will be conducting the event.

Johann Corera will accompany the rowers as Manager-cum-coach.