SriLankan flies high in Bangalore
View(s):A team of swimmers from national carrier SriLankan Airlines brought glory to the country at the Indo-Sri Lanka XVI State Masters Aquatic championships held in India. The swimming meet held on November 1 and 2, organised by the Karnataka Swimming Association was worked off at the Nettakallappa Aquatic Centre in Padmanabhanagar, Bangalore with the participation of over 350 swimmers from 22 states in India.
The invitation team from SriLankan Airlines comprising of 11 swimmers competed in several categories such as the freestyle, medley relay, butterfly, individual medley, breaststroke and backstroke, securing the highest number of medals with a tally of 24 Gold, 18 Silver and eight Bronze. Three swimmers emerged overall winners in their respective categories, overcoming stiff competition to beat the teams from the different states in India.
Squatting (from left): Darshinee Dharmawardana, Priyadharshini Hewage, Susantha Kumara, H.P. Kularatne, Sarah Dissanayake. Standing (from left): Tharindu Perera, Udhana Mahagalaella, Sineka Epaliyanage, Mahesha Tennakoon, Shakya Dayananda, P.S.P. Dayananda.
Mahesha Tennakoon, a cabin crew member was one of the top three champions who won six gold medals in the age category of 25 to 29. She was the winner of 100m and 50m freestyle events and 100m and 50m butterfly stroke events. She was part of the relay team that won the 4x25m medley and freestyle relays as well.
Susantha Kumara, who is part of ramp service, won three gold and two silver medals in the 40 to 45 age group. He won golds in 50m backstroke, 100m individual medley and 4x25m freestyle relay events while pocketing silver medals in 100m backstroke and 4x25m relay events. Veteran swimmer P.S.P. Dayananda, a cabin safety member, was the third of the three champions after having won three gold medals and a silver in the 55 and above age group. He won golds in 100m and 50m backstroke events and 50m butterfly events while clinching a silver in the 50m freestyle event.
Shakya Dayananda, a cabin crew member, too impressed with impressive performances in the 25 to 29 age category. She won gold medals in 200m and 400m freestyle events as well as in two relay events and two silver medals in the 50m butterfly and individual medley. Her fellow cabin crew member, Sineka Epaliyanage competing in the same age category, claimed three gold, two silver and a bronze medal. Her gold medals came from 100m freestyle and 4x25m relays in freestyle and medley events. She won silver medals in 100m breaststroke and 100 backstroke events while placing herself third in the 50m freestyle event.
H.P. Kularathna of the engineering department won two medals each in gold and silver in the 50 to 54 age group. The two gold medals were from 50m butterfly and 4x25m individual medley events. The silver medals came from 100m backstroke and 4x25m medley relay.
Sarah Dissanayake, a technical training department member, claimed a tally of five medals, which included a gold, three silvers and a bronze competing in the 25 to 29 age group. The gold medal came from the 4x25m medley relay while the silver medals were from 200m freestyle, 100m breaststroke and 50m backstroke events. She won a bronze medal in 100m backstroke. Finance services executive Priyadharshani Hewage won a gold medal and three silver medals in the events she competed in the 45 and over age group. Her gold medal came from the 50m breaststroke event while the silver medals came from 100m freestyle, 50 backstroke and 100m backstroke events.