Nearly 330 rowers are set to take their oars at the 27th National Rowing Championship which will begin on September 15 at the Bolgoda Lake off Moratuwa. A total of 17 crews will take part at this year’s rowing nationals which is a significant improvement in the history of the sport.
“This year we see much better participation than in the past. This is a very good sign for rowing which needs more participation in order to spread the sport throughout the country,” said Rohan Fernando, the president of Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) at a press conference held in Colombo on Thursday (8).
The three-day rowing competition which is the biggest regatta in the country will witness the participation of crews representing country’s armed forces of Sri Lanka; Army, Navy and Air Force in addition to Universities, schools and clubs. Competitors will vie for supremacy at different age categories over a multi-lane 2000 metre course, as per international standards of rowing. Four boats are set to row abreast where the honour of the nationals will be presented only on the winners of the open category based on the number of wins. 40 races have been lined up per day, amounting a total of 120 races at the end of the competition.
“This year’s event is sponsored by Mobitel for the seventh successive year which is a remarkable partnership. We are ambitious to embark a programme to develop a national pool with the aim of winning a wildcard entry for the 2012 Olympics,” Fernando added. - NA |
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