Two young divers make Sri Lanka proud at World Championship
View(s):Two Sri Lankan divers, Mikhail Jayaweera of Colombo International School and Vinudi Kankanamge of Visakha Vidyalaya, emerged as South Asia’s top athletes at the World Aquatic Junior Diving Championship, wrapped up last Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This milestone comes despite Sri Lanka’s lack of essential diving facilities, making their feat even more extraordinary.
Vinudi Kankanamge made history as the first-ever female diver from Sri Lanka to excel at this event. The championship, spanning eight days, featured 250 of the world’s best junior divers from 40 countries. Her participation in both the 3m springboard and platform events highlighted her commitment and ability.
Mikhail Jayaweera
Mikhail Jayaweera competed in the platform event, proving his mettle in the world diving pool. Together, the duo revived Sri Lanka’s presence at this level, a first since 1999, when Chanaka Wickramasinghe of Royal College and Gayan Ranatunga of S. Thomas’ College competed in the same championship in the Czech Republic. Notably, Wickramasinghe, now a coach, mentored both Mikhail and Vinudi, adding a full-circle narrative to Sri Lanka’s diving journey.
Sri Lanka’s divers face significant challenges due to the absence of dryland training rooms and trampolines, both vital for proper preparation. Unlike many nations equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, Sri Lankan athletes rely on minimal resources. Yet, they stood toe-to-toe with competitors from countries with advanced training infrastructure, underlining their strength and willpower.
Vinudi Kankanamge
Experts in the diving community highlighted that many participants in this championship often go on to become Olympic medalists. For Sri Lanka, having two athletes qualify and perform admirably under such constraints highlights their immense potential.
Diving professionals are now urging Sri Lanka’s sports authorities to prioritise the development of dryland training facilities and trampolines. Providing these resources is crucial for nurturing talent like Mikhail and Vinudi, whose achievements have already placed Sri Lanka on the international diving map.
These under-15 athletes have proven that, with the right support, they can reach even greater heights. The country must seize this opportunity to bolster its diving infrastructure and empower the next generation of champions.