Ananda’s new sporting legacy
Each time a fleet of sleek boats sliced swiftly through the still waters of the Beira Lake during last weekend’s Sri Lanka Schools Rowing
National Championships, clusters of students gathered near the finish line to raucously egg on their respective schools. Whenever this occurred, more often than not, the loudest cheers emanating from the lake’s banks came from Ananda College’s supporters, who understandably had the most to celebrate. Not only were they witnessing their team row their way to the Under-18 and Under-20 titles they would eventually clinch but also the creation of an illustrious new chapter in the school’s sporting history.
Unlike most other schools involved in the sport, Ananda boasts of no long rowing tradition. It took root in the school only in 2001 when the late Mike Udabage, an eminent oarsman for the Colombo Rowing Club, decided the time was right for his former school to embrace rowing’s tough physical and mental demands.
Standing tall on the waters: After the Fours win - Pix by Amila Gamage
In hindsight, the move was ingenious, but it took some time to ripen. Fortunately there were plenty of people willing to fight for rowing’s cause at Ananda, beginning foremost, and crucially, with their first coach Yohan Thurainayagam.
Functioning in the role on a voluntary basis, Thurainayagam laid the groundwork for Ananda’s future success by helping it procure two boats from India and a set of oars from Hungary and introducing the school to its first appointed coach Ahmed Aslam.
From there the school promptly set about transforming itself from the initial underdogs of Sri Lankan school rowing to its current overlords.
It carved deep inroads along the way through stellar performances at events such as the University of Moratuwa Sculling Regatta, the Sri Lanka National Championship Regatta and the Ranfer Sprints. The Anandian rowing programme also began producing national level oarsmen in Guyan Jayaratne (Junior Asian Rowing Championships, 15th Asian Games), Nimantha Hewagama and Dwijendra Senaratne (both part of the bronze medal-winning Fours team at the 10th South Asian Federation Games).
By the time Aslam had let go of Ananda’s coaching reins in 2012, they were knocking firmly on the door of school rowing with solid displays at national competitions. It was up to current coach Mihin Amarasinghe to provide the necessary impetus and know-how required to force it open.
The victory celebrations
“They had a good team and decent boats when I came in. What I tried to do was bring in some new techniques and change up the training programme,” explains Amarasinghe, a former Royal College oarsman who is also Sri Lanka’s and the Navy’s kayaking coach.
Amarasinghe asserts that rowing is unlike any other sport in the way it tests its practitioners physically and mentally, driving them well past their perceived limitations. “It’s a very tough sport. If you look at some of the top endurance athletes in the world, there are sure to be a lot of oarsmen up there,” he says.
To drive home this point and ensure that his charges are not found wanting come race day, Amarasinghe drills them with a rigorous training regime which consists of rowing, gym work and 25km beach runs six days a week on mornings and afternoons.
“You need a lot of commitment,” confirms Ananda’s rowing Captain Buddhima Wickramarathne, adding that this, together with teamwork, is vital for any crew looking to succeed.
Amarasinghe stresses that the continued support of the Ananda College Rowing Team Committee, a voluntary group of Old Boys comprising Kumar Jayasuriya, Jayantha Wickremesinghe, Keerthi Karunaratne, Asoka Karunaratne and Ravi Jayaratne, has also played a pivotal role in keeping Ananda’s rowing aspirations afloat.
Mihin has great faith in his team carrying on the good work they have done so far, and is confident the trophy cabinet at the school is set to see a slew of accolades in the coming years. With a talented young crew armed with an insatiable desire to win, Ananda College certainly has the ability to breathe life into this lofty prediction and, if their past progress is anything to go by, they will probably look to do it rapidly.
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