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| Sunday, 03 August 2003 |
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Sri Lanka swimming and diving team all geared up for China meet by LESLIE FERNANDO Ten-member Sri Lanka swimming and diving team comprising six swimmers and four divers selected from the final trial conducted by NAASU and approved by the Ministry of Sports will participate at the 3rd Asian Age Group Swimming and Diving Championships to be held from August 24 to 30 in Macao, China. The championships sanctioned by the Asian Amateur Swimming Federation (AASF) will be jointly organised by Macao Sports Development Board, Macao 4th East Asian Games Organising Committee and Macao, China Swimming Association. Conrad Francis (St. Joseph's College Swimming Club), Kalyan Veera (Asian International School), Nilmin Aresecularatne (St. Joseph's College), Chathri Abeykoon (Ladies College), Mihiri Kandanaarachchi (Mahamaya College, Kandy), Prabha Madavi Dharmadasa (Musaeus College), are the six swimmers. The four divers are - Chanaka Wickremasinghe (Royal College), Esiri Kankanige (Royal College), Prashadi Perera (Visakha Vidyalaya), Tharaki Siyaguna, (Bishop's College). K.P.N. Padmadeva ASP Kalutara will be the manager and Mahinda Liyanage of RCUAC will be the coach. Conrad will swim in open 50 metres and 100 metres breast stroke and 50 metres and 100 metres butterfly stroke. Kalyan (15-17 years) in 50 metres freestyle, 50 metres, 100 metres and 200 metres breast stroke, Nilmin (14-15 years) in 50 metres, 100 metres, 200 metres freestyle and 50 metres back stroke, Prabha (14-15 years) in 50 metres, 100 metres, 200 metres breast stroke, 200 metres back stroke, 200 metres and 400 metres individual medley. Mihiri (14-15 years) in 50 metres, 100 metres, 200 metres breast stroke, 200 metres, 400 metres individual medley. Chathuri (14-15 years) in 50 metres and 100 metres butterfly stroke, 50 metres and 100 metres freestyle, 50 metres and 100 metres back stroke. Chanaka will dive in 19 years and under one metre, three-metres spring board and platform diving. Esiri (16-18 years) one metre, three metres and platform diving. Meanwhile, two girl divers - Prashadi (16-18 years) and Tharaki (14-15 years) will dive in one metre and three metre spring board both may also compete in platform diving. The swimmers and divers will have to bear the cost of air ticket and accommodation and they will have to find sponsors. K.P. Nevin Padmadeva: ASP Kalutara (Manager): Vice President of NAASU, Senior Vice President, Dharmasoka Aquatic SC, President of Dolphin AC, Panadura. He is an old boy of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda, Represented Sri Lanka (Indo-Ceylon swimming meet) for 7 years 1969 to 1975. Represented the country at the Peking International Swimming and Diving Championships in 1975. Won a gold medal in 1500 freestyle at Trivandrum, India. Middle and long distance national champion for four years 1972-1975 - 400 metres freestyle, 1500 metres freestyle, two-mile and six mile sea swim. Padmadeva has toured with the national teams to India, Pakistan and China. Winner of the six-mile sea-swim continuously for five years. Winner of the 2-mile sea swim for four consecutive years at Ambalangoda and Mt. Lavinia. He has won the best swimmer award on several times. Mahinda Liyanage JP: (coach) a former reputed swimmer of Royal, diver and waterpolo player. He has represented Sri Lanka in all three events and also a lifesaver. Mahinda won a silver medal in diving at the 1995 SAF Games in Bangladesh. He has represented Sri Lanka in swimming, waterpolo and diving at several international meets here and abroad. He is the diving and waterpolo coach of Royal College, head coach at Lyceum International School and also the head coach of Sri Lanka Police. He has been the national diving champion for three successive years 1989 to 1991. He is a member of the FINA diving judges panel. Conrad Francis: St. Joseph's College Swimming Club. The most experienced swimmer who has represented the country at Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, FINA World Championships, SAF Games, and Asia Pacific Age Group Championship meets. A top butterfly stroker and breast stroker who has already established over 100 records at school, national and international level. Conrad was a former Josephian 'star' swimmer who returned to the country after participating at the FINA World Swimming Championships held in Barcelona, Spain. He established three Sri Lanka records in his two pet events. Kalyan Veera: Represented St. Thomas' College Kotte first and now is at Asian International School. He has represented Sri Lanka in many international meets. Kalyan holds several records at school level. He has performed well in the freestyle and breast stroke events. Won national school colours in swimming. Nilmin Arsecularatne: St. Joseph's College. Is a very promising young swimmer. His maiden international meet done proud to the college at schools meet. He is a good swimmer in all strokes with lot of potential. Established many records in NAASU conducted meets. Won colours for swimming at school. Mihiri Kandanaarachchi: Mahamaya College a talented swimmer who has toured India, China, with Sri Lanka teams. She was also selected to go to Pakistan for the postponed SAF Games. She has excelled in her pet event breast stroke plus the individual medley. Proved to be a fine swimmer, setting several records at school level and club level at meets conducted by SLSASA and NAASU. Won Sri Lanka and school colours for swimming. Prabha Madavi Dharmadasa: Musaeus College has performed exceptionally well at Sri Lanka Schools and NAASU conducted meets. Holds age group and schools records in her age group. Represented at the Sri Lanka Schools and Tamil Nadu Aquatic Dual in Colombo and Chennai. An up-and-coming breast stroker who should make a mark at future meets. Chaturi Abeykoon: Ladies College. She has vast experience, swimming at foreign meets in Hong Kong, Zhuhai, China, Bangalore, Chennai. She was also selected to swim for Sri Lanka at the SAF Games (postponed) in Islamabad 2003. National record holder in three events and also became age group champion and pentathlon champion in her age category. Chanaka Wickremasinghe: Royal College, is the open national diving champion of Sri Lanka. He was the overall captain at the Chinese Taipei International Meet in 2000. Chanaka has represented the country in diving at Czech Republic (Junior World Championships 1999) Canada in 2000, He has also gone to India, Hong Kong and Malaysia to represent the country in diving. At the Royal College colours night 2001, Chanaka was awarded the most outstanding sportsman of the year award. He has won several medals for Sri Lanka. Esiri Kankanige: Royal College. Is the Sri Lanka Schools and National age group diving champion from 1995 to 2003 in one metre, three metres spring board and platform diving. He has participated at the Asia Pacific Diving Championship in Malaysia and India. He participated in the KCR-NAASU International Aquatic Championships in Bangalore and won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze in diving and swimming. Prasadhi Perera: Visakha Vidyalaya, is the Sri Lanka Schools and National Age Group Diving Champion from 1998 to 2003. Represented Sri Lanka in Synchronised Swimming at the 1st Asian Age Group Swimming Championships held in Hong Kong in 2001. Participated in the KCR-NAASU Aquatic Dual in Bangalore. She is also a good swimmer and waterpolo player and has represented the school in both branches of aquatic sport. Tharaki Siyaguna: Bishop's College. First became Novices Diving Champion in 1997 and gradually came on top in the one metre, three metres, spring board and platform diving, in the intermediate class. She is now at the national level in diving. She has participated in the KCR-NAASU Aquatic Championships in Bangalore and won a gold medal in one metre spring board diving. She received the award for the most outstanding achievement in sports at Bishop's College in 1999. |
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