Confident 11-member squad leaves for 55th Singapore Championship
The Sri Lankan contingent, comprising eight male and three female swimmers, has been granted official approval under the direction of the Director General of the Department of Sports and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. They will be aiming to make a strong impression in a championship that has traditionally been a launchpad for young Asian swimmers striving to break into the international arena.
(Front row from left): Fawaz Mohideen (Coach), Mahinda Liyanage (SLASU General Secretary), Matthew Abeysinghe (Head Coach), Udara Weerakoon (Coach) (Middle row from left): Dinali Karunadasa, Christina Perumal, Lehara Melegoda (Back row from left): Vinul Senanayake, M.F. Muhammad, Okitha Gunasekara, Sebastian Fernando, Adeetha Siriwardena, Asif Imran, Yashith Wijesundara
The men’s team features a mix of established and upcoming talent, spearheaded by M.F. Muhammad of Zahira College, who has already stamped his authority on the local swimming circuit with record-breaking performances. He is joined by Okitha Gunasekara (Elizabeth Moir International School), Vinul Senanayake and Charan Rupesinghe (both Killer Whale Academy), Sebastian Fernando (Stafford International School), Asif Imran and Yashith Wijesundara (both D.S. Senanayake College) and Adeetha Siriwardena (Wesley College), all of whom have showcased promising performances in national and regional competitions.
The women’s team comprises Visakha Vidyalaya’s Dinali Karunadasa, AIS’s Christina Perumal, and KWA’s Lehara Melegoda. The trio will be looking to make their mark in an intensely competitive field.
A major boost for the Sri Lankan team comes in the form of its coaching panel, led by double Olympian and the country’s most decorated South Asian Games swimmer, Matthew Abeysinghe. The accomplished swimmer-turned-coach will serve as both Head Coach and Team Manager, bringing invaluable experience and technical expertise to the young squad.
Supporting him will be Zahira College’s Swimming Head Coach Fawaz Mohideen and Udara Weerakoon, who have played instrumental roles in nurturing Sri Lanka’s emerging swimming talent. Lady chaperone R.P. Amaranayake will also accompany the squad to ensure smooth coordination for the female athletes.
The Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championship is widely regarded as one of Asia’s most competitive youth swimming events. With elite-level competition and stringent qualification standards, it provides Sri Lankan swimmers with a golden opportunity to test themselves against some of the best young swimmers in the region.
For Sri Lanka, this meet will serve as a stepping stone ahead of future international meets, including the Asian Age Group Championship and potential Olympic qualification pathways. The young squad will be eager to prove their mettle and gain valuable exposure at an international level.