Mighara a rising star in the making

A rising star splashing the waters and who has made a name for himself in just a short period of five years is Mighara Hulangamuwa from Trinity College Kandy just reaching the age of twelve. The little kid begun entering the swimming pool just past his sixth birthday has made a name for himself having created or broken existing records that have been set by some household names in this sport.

Mighara's success has been enormous for a youngster of his age. Like a duck taking to the water his positive approach once he jumps to the pool in any sort of competition especially in the domestic arena has been a thorn in the flesh for his opponents. As they are not given a chance to get pass him.

His success story began after having participated in the Madras Triangular swimming meet held at Gujarat in 2006. He spearheaded his side to win the 4x25 freestyle event. From there on it has been a load of success for this gifted youngster. This year (2007) has been the best of his short career. He began with a triple of wins at the Mahamaya, Trinity and Rainbow Aquatic swimming championships by winning the Under 12 100m freestyle, 50m butterfly and 200m individual medley events.

His record breaking feats began at the Pentathlon swimming championships 2007 conducted by the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLSU). Taking part in five events he was successful in taking the first place in four of them, setting records in two of these. The two records being one in 50m butterfly stroke where he recorded a timing of 34.26 eclipsing the record of 34.61 set in 2005 by Ali Ispahani and the other record was in the 200m individual medley where he timed 2.50.29 to better the record of 2.51.77 by M.I. Fahim in 2000. The other two wins were in the 50m backstroke and 50m breaststroke while he secured a second place in the 50m freestyle and he went on to bag the best swimmers award in that meet.

He continued his winning streak when he bagged four wins at the National Age Group Swimming Champions also conducted by the SLSU winning the 50m butterfly and backstroke events, 100m freestyle and then broke his own record in the 200m individual medley with a timing of 2.49.44 which incidentally is a new age group record. At the 3rd Age Group Swimming and Diving Championships 2007 he was successful in three events 50m butterfly and backstroke and 200m individual medley in which he broke the meet record set by his senior schoolmate Heshan Unamboowa five years ago. The wins helped his school to emerge the Under 11 joint champions.

He bagged seven more wins from two meets. Winning four at the 3rd Age Group swimmming championships conducted by the Central Province Aquatic Sports Association and three at the Central Province Age Group Swimming Championships organized by the Kingswood Club Aquatic Sports Association. He also bagged the champion swimmers award in the Under 12 category in both the meets.

Being selected to represent the Sri Lanka Schools squad at the 2nd Chennai - Sri Lanka dual meet he has secured a win in the 100m individual medley and two third places in the 25m butterfly and freestyle. Later at the Junior National Championships 2007 Mighara participated in the Under 14 category and spearheaded his side to win the 4x50 medley relay, 4x100 freestyle relay and the 4x50m freestyle relay whilst gaining two second places in the 400m freestyle and 100m backstroke.

Mighara's spectacular efforts were rewraded when his alma mater awarded him the best allround sportsman trophy for the year 2007 at Trinity junior school. It's not only swimmimg Mighara's is an allround sportsman and was a member of Trinity's centenary Under 12 rugby team. Apart from that he plays football, badminton and participates at athletics.

For Mighara to have reached this pinnacle of course he has to have some or many to encourage him. He profusely thanks the wholehearted support rendered by his principal, two coaches U.H. Pemlath and U.H. Sugath and master in charge P. Senanayake. The dedication and encouragement given by his parents who takes this youngster for his training at 5.00 a.m. for five days of the week, elder sister and brother has given young Mighara the determination to perform with success up to this stage.