Matthew to lead swimming team for SAG
Matthew Abeysinghe holds the record for the highest number of SAG medals in a single event
Sri Lanka suffered a huge blow to its medal prospects in swimming after female swimming sensation Kimiko Raheem pulled out of the South Asian Games with an injury.
The 13th edition of the South Asian Games will be held from December 1-10 in Kathmandu, Nepal where Sri Lanka will field 19 swimmers –11 male and eight female.
Star swimmer Matthew Abeysinghe has been named as captain of the 19-member strong Sri Lankan squad. Alongside Abeysinghe, Akalanka Peiris, Kavindra Nugawela, B.D. Shehan, Shevinda de Silva, Kiran Jaasinghe, Cherantha de Silva, Sandev Senarathne, Revan Senaratne, Stephen Perera and Kavin Weerasinghe will be the male swimmers in action. The women’s team includes Bhakthi Karunasena, Ramudi Samarakoon, Ganga Seneviratne, Aniqah Gaffoor, Sandu Savindi, Shazna Mahir and Hiruki de Silva.
Raheem was due to compete in eix events, and her absence has forced the swimming selectors to recommend four names as replacements. The names have been sent to the Ministry of Sports, for approval.
Abeysinghe holds the record for winning the record for most gold medals won at a South Asian Games 2016. He won seven gold, two silvers and a bronze, winning 10 out of 11 events. He lowered the record established by Julian Bolling in the 1991 edition of SAG.
National record holders Akalanka Peiris and Cherantha de Silva will join Abeysinghe in the quest of winning Golds for Sri Lanka. Raheem’s unavailability will be a big blow for the women’s team. She is one of the key medal winners in 2016, winning five golds along with a silver.
| Swimmers with participating events: | |
| Men Matthew Abeysinghe: 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly, 200m Individual Medley, 100m Freestyle Relay, 200m Freestyle relay Akalanka Peiris: 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke, 50m Buttefly, 100m Backstroke, 200m Backstroke, 100m Freestyle Relay Kavindra Nugawela: 200m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle Relay, 200m Freestyle Relay B.D. Shehan: 400m Freestyle, 1500m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle Shevinda de Silva: 50m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke Kiran Jaasinghe: 50m Breaststroke, 100m Breaststroke, 200m Breaststroke Cherantha de Silva: 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly, 200m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle Relay Sandev Senarathne: 200m Butterfly Revan Senaratne: 400m Individual Medley Stephen Perera: 100m Freestyle Relay, 200m Freestyle Relay Kavin Weerasinghe: 200m Freestyle Relay Women Bhakthi Karunasena: 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle Relay, 200m Freestyle Relay Ramudi Samarakoon: 200m Freestyle, 400m Freestyle, 800m Freestyle Ganga Seneviratne: 50m Backstroke, 100m Backstroke, 200m Backstroke, 100m Freestyle Relay, 200m Freestyle Relay Aniqah Gaffoor: 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly, 200m Butterfly Sandu Savindi: 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle Relay, 200m Freestyle Relay Shazna Mahir: 400m Individual Medley Hiriki de Silva – 100m Freestyle Relay |