2590 swimmers on show
The 40th annual Milo Schools All-Island Age Group Aquatic Championships will commence on Tuesday with a record participation of 2590 swimmers at the Sugathadasa Swimming Pool Complex in Colombo.
The competition which lasts four days will feature 164 events in six age categories. This includes 140 individual and 24 relay events with championship trophies on offer for boys and girls in junior, senior and overall categories which will be defended by St. Joseph’s College and Mahamaya Girls’ School Kandy this time.
“We have received entries from 180 schools from all parts of Sri Lanka. This is a significant improvement for a competition that has been in existence for the past four decades. We are looking at avenues to take this tournament outside Colombo with the help of our stakeholders such as Nestle Lanka and Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU),” Y.A.N.D. Yapa, the president of Sri Lanka Schools Aquatic Sports Association (SLSASA) said.
Among the participating number of schools, 80 are boys’ institutions with 54 girls’ schools entering the competition. In addition 46 mixed schools have entered the fray with other top schools from the main cities and its suburbs.
According to SLSASA the most number of schools represent the Western province which numbers 68. Central and Southern provinces have an equal number of schools, 28 each with 16 schools entering from the Sabaragamuwa province. Uva and Wayamba provinces will field 14 and 12 schools respectively while eight schools will compete representing the North Central province. With the SLSASA conducting coaching camps outside main cities, the competition has attracted five schools from the Eastern and a school from the Northern provinces.
“Only Jaffna Central has entered the competition this year, making them the first school from northern region to enter the competition after over three decades. This is an essential sport for all students and it appears to be a positive journey ahead. We hope to see more kids taking up swimming,” Yapa added.
The competition will feature school swimming stars. - Pic by Amila Gamage
The competition will hold events beginning for the age groups of Under-9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19. However competitions for the swimmers of age groups of Under-9, 11 and 13 will not be considered as competitive. Only those who reach the qualifying standard timings from the age groups of below 13 will be given a certificate. But swimmers who reach the final eight in the age groups of Under-15, 17 and 19 will be awarded certificates with the top three finishers guaranteed of medals.
“We strictly follow the guidelines and regulations of the Ministries of Education and Sports, not to hold competitive events for youngsters of the age of below 13. But we have set them qualifier timings for each event, because we might come across opportunities to send some of them to overseas events,” Yapa revealed.
The opening ceremony of the Milo Schools All-Island Age Group Aquatic Championships will be held on Tuesday at 8.00am under the patronage of A.B. Abeyratne, the Director of Sports for the Ministry of Education. The closing ceremony will take place next Friday from 4.00pm under the patronage of Minister of Education, Bandula Gunawardene.
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