Oarswoman Hayaa, shaping up to be a great leader
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Women’s Double Scull winners Oneli Chandrasekara and Hayaa Hassen
Hayaa Hassen, the captain of the Ladies College rowing crew, made her presence felt worth at the recently concluded 83rd Madras-Colombo Rowing Regatta held on the waters of Beira Lake, where Colombo Rowing Club (CRC) won both the Men’s and Women’s titles. Hayaa, who competed in the Women’s Double Scull alongside Oneli Chandrasekara, navigated CRC to record a convincing win by 3 minutes and 52 seconds against Madras Boat Club (MBC), who finished the course in 3 minutes and 57 seconds.
CRC won the Men’s ‘B’ Scull, Men’s ‘A’ Pair, Men’s ‘B’ Pair Women’s Pair, Women’s Double Scull, Men’s ‘A’ Double Scull, Women’s Scull, Men’s ‘B’ Four and Women’s Four to claim both the Deepam Trophy for Men’s and Adyar Trophy for Women.
Maliq Hassen and Shaylon Gunaratne
Hayaa is emerging as a force to reckon with in women’s rowing, following in her brother’s footsteps. She has been actively participating in rowing since 2018 and her love for the sport, coupled up with passion and dedication, soon developed into perfection. Hayaa’s leadership position at Ladies College is evidence of her commitment in developing her own skills as well as those of her teammates.
Similar to her sibling Maliq, also a member of the Men’s team at the annual event, Hayaa has participated in international competitions, proudly representing her nation and institutions. Her exposure to international platforms has improved her abilities and expanded her knowledge of competitive rowing. As captain, she places a strong emphasis on cooperation, self-control, and fortitude—strengths that are necessary for success on and off the field.