Deaf swimmer for South Asian Meet

By Leslie Fernando

SWIMMING:The deaf swimmer Chamari Kudabalage of Hillwood College, Kandy who is amongst the other 30 swimmers selected to represent Sri Lanka at the 1st South Asia Swimming and Diving Championships to be held next month in Islamabad, Pakistan has performed well winning a Diploma, 4th place in the 200 metres back stroke at the 2nd World Deaf Swimming Championships held in Chinese Taipei 12th to 19th August.

Chamari who is deaf from birth as such is unable to speak. Throughout her swimming career, she competes with normal hearing swimmers and for the first time she got the opportunity to represent Sri Lanka at the 2nd World Deaf Swimming Championships held in Chinese Taipei.

There were deaf swimmers from 54 countries. Chamari competed in five events.

She was placed fourth in her favourite event 200 metres back stroke and it is recognised as 4th place in world ranking of the event. Chamari also swam at the 10th South Asian Games, swimming competition held in Colombo 2006 and was placed fifth in the 200 metres back stroke.

Chamari has participated in two other international meets-First Tamil Nadu - Sri Lanka Schools Dual Swimming meet in Chennai and she won a gold and two silver medals. At the 4th Asian Age Group Swimming championships held in Thailand she was placed amongst the first 8 in her pet event. She also has performed well at local meets, nationals, short course championships, national sports festivals. She also have won Sri Lanka Colours, Sri Lanka Schools Colours which she achieved at the age of 11 years.

Chamari has achieved all these achievements except the 2nd World Deaf Swimming Championships competing with the normal persons.