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Sri Lanka shine in SAF rowing
By Pelham Juriansz
Sri Lanka's rowers brought pride to our country by winning seven silver medals and two bronze medals at their maiden attempt at the South Asian Federation Games held in Islamabad. This augurs well for the next South Asian Games, to be held next year in Sri Lanka. Another significant feature is that Sri Lanka won a medal in each of the events that they participated in.

The twelve rowers from Sri Lanka represented The Colombo Rowing Club (CRC), S.Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia, Royal College, Old Josephians and Navy.

There were six rowers from the Colombo Rowing Club namely skipper, Chanaka Talpahewa, Diluk Aluwihara,Devaka Seneviratne, Usman Fatharally, Udesh Hettiarachchi and Sanjeewa Perera. The Rowers from S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia were Isuru Perera, Dejan de Zoysa and Dinesh Aluwihare. Old Josephians Rowing Club was represented by Mewan Gunawardane. Prijith Perera represented Royal College while S. Fonseka was from the Navy.

This is the first time that Rowing was introduced at the SAF Games, which began in 1984. For any one sport to be introduced at the SAF Games one needs a minimum of four countries participating in that sport. This year four countries participated as Afghanistan participated in the SAF Games. President of Colombo Rowing Club Deva Henry was happy that Sri Lanka had performed beyond expectations at their maiden attempt, and expressed hope that at the next SAF Games to be held in Colombo Sri Lanka can obtain a Gold in one of the Lightweight rowing events. Another point to note was that Deva Henry was appointed as Juror for the SAF Games. This is the equivalent of being a third umpire in cricket.

Sri Lanka won silver medals in the Lightweight Men's Fours, Lightweight Double Sculls, Lightweight sculls, Open Sculls and Open Double Sculls. Bronze medals were secured in Open Fours and Open Pairs.

Sri Lanka won silver medals through in the Lightweight Men's Fours through Nirmal Diluk Aluwihare, Dejan Francis, Richard de Zoysa, skipper Chanaka Harsha Talpahewa and Udesh Hettiarachchi, while Afghanistan got a bronze medal through Aarish Rahimi, Rehman Mehmood, Abdur Rahim and Jawad Popal.

Pakistan won gold medals in single scull open mix, light-weight double-scull (2000 metres) and double-scull M2X (Open 2000 metres). Former Asian champion Muhammad Akram Waryah clinched victory for Pakistan in the class of single scull open mix. S. Fonseka of Sri Lanka captured the silver medal while Abdur Rahim of Afghanistan took the bronze.

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