Swimming pose still looms
View(s):The ‘tale of two committees’ existing at the of the Ministry of Sports recognized Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU New) and the old SLASU (SLASU Old), which is the sole body recognized by the world swimming governing body or the Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA) has forced talented swimmers from Sri Lanka to swim under the FINA flag and not under Sri Lankan flag.
Manoj Abeysinghe, the Head Coach of Killer-Whale Aquatics (KWA) told the Sunday Times that for the last five years their swimmers have dominated swimming in the country and their aggressive training have produced international level swimmers. This he said was evident at the World Swimming Championships held in Kazan, Russia in July and at the Junior Swimming World Championships held in Singapore recently. Unfortunately, Abeysinghe grieved that they all swam under FINA flag and not under Sri Lankan flag.
Yet, he said that the present achievements of Sri Lankan swimmers is astounding and it is for the first time such achievements in the international arena has been registered and indicated that there is a highly enthusiastic and dedicated part of the swimming fraternity who work hard to train and prepare these swimmers.
“Now some of them can even compete in the Olympics,” he quipped. He pointed out that FINA insists the SLASU has to be an autonomous body sans politics and thus FINA recognizes only the SLASU Old, while the Ministry of Sports recognizes only the SLASU New which is barred sending swimmers for international competition, while the SLASU Old is precluded from conducting selections etc inside the country.
He said that there is a very enthusiastic group of swimming fraternity who work hard to dazzle local swimmers at international competitions, which indeed they have already achieved, but sadly without these players recognized as Sri Lankan athletes.
Abeysinghe said “our swimmers have earned dexterity to complete in Olympics and achieved accolades”. But, he points out the lacuna of two committees prevent their attempts.
He also said that in spite of the differences, Sri Lanka has to prepare the swimmers for the upcoming South Asian Games scheduled for January 10. “Time is running out. The impasse has been created due to the shortsightedness on the part of officials,” Abeysinghe pointed out.
FINA has suspended the elections until such time the Sri Lanka’s Sports Laws are changed to comply with the requirements of the world governing body for sports. FINA suspension of the SLASU New sparked when the Ministry of Sports and a part of the sports community went ahead and held the elections against the FINA directive.He said that FINA responded by not recognizing this newly elected committee until such time fresh election can be held with FINA observers and that does not contravene their regulations.
Now the group who work to put country’s swimming on top in the international sports arena, urge the Minister of Sports to rectify the impasse by conforming the FINA directives.