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| Sunday, 20 October 2002 |
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Seven individual golds for Akshayan Rajasingam of AIS by LESLIE FERNANDO Asian International School (AIS) and Ladies College carried away major honours, becoming overall men and women champions respectively at the three-day National Swimming Championship conducted by NAASU and concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium Swimming Pool yesterday. Asian International School took top spot with 236 points and was presented the Dudley Senanayake Challenge Trophy. S. Thomas' College Mt. Lavinia came second with 110 points while Royal College came in third with 107 points. Ladies College with 184 points were awarded the NAASU challenge shield as they came first among women. Mahamaya College Kandy were second with 138 points and St. Bridget's Convent third with 93 points. National swimmer Akshayan Rajasingam of Asian International School stole the limelight when he won 7 gold medals, winning all seven events participated. Akshayan won the 200 metres IM - 2.30.19 secs. 50 metres butterfly 27.56 secs, 50 metres back stroke 29.97 secs, 100 metres butterfly 1.02.34 secs, 100 metres freestyle 57.87 secs, 100 metres back stroke 1.06.92 secs and the 50 metres freestyle style 25.60 secs. He also proved that he is the fastest man swimming in the championships. Akshayan also had a hand in all three relays for Asian International School. It means he has won ten gold medals. A superb achievement. He was picked as the best men's swimmer of the championship. Meanwhile Chathuri Abeykoon of Ladies College who established the solitary national and Sri Lanka record in the 50 metres butterfly 32.15 secs and also won the 100 metres butterfly and helped the school to perform well in all three relays. Bridgeteen and national swimmer Menaka de Silva proved that she was the fastest amongst women in the pool winning the 50 metres freestyle 28.58 secs. Two young swimmers from Kandy Miniruwani Samarakoon of Gateway International School Kandy and Mihiri Kandanarachchi of Mahamaya College also fared prominently, winning three events each. Miniruwani was the youngest 10 years to win 200 metres butterfly stroke 2.52.59 secs. In the Diving Championships Royal College came on top in the diving, collecting 51 points and they were awarded the Allan Smith Challenge Trophy. Asian International School came second with 15 points. Both national diving champions Harini Jayasekera of RCUAC and Chanaka Wickremasinghe of Royal College proved their class in both the spring board and platform diving. Harini won the one metres, and three metre spring and 261.50 points. and 289.90 points and the platform diving with 260 points. Chanaka won the one metre springboard and three metre springboard 377.95 points and 396.50 points. In the platform diving he collected 294.75 secs. Sychronized swimming Visakha Vidyalaya won the Barbara Flamer-Caldera Challenge Trophy, coming first in the Sychronized Swimming Championships - St. Bridgets Convent in second place and Colombo International School third. Harshani Warnapura and Prashadi Perera both of Visakha Vidyalaya won the Duets. Chamari Warnapura of Colombo International School took the solos and the Team event went to St. Bridget's Convent. Waterpolo S. Thomas' College Mt. Lavinia and Sri Lanka Air Force became men's and women's waterpolo champions. S. Thomas' beat Air Force by 5 goals to 3 in the men's final while Air Force beat Bishop's 6-1 in the women's final. N. G. Punchihewa, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Mrs. Punchihewa graced the occasion as chief guests. |
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