Swimming: India overall champs at South Asian Aquatic Championship

India with a massive haul of 121 Gold, 77 Silver and 18 Bronze – totaling 216 Medals won the overall championship at the South Asian Aquatic Championship 2016 which concluded at the Colombo Sugathadasa Swimming Pool on Saturday (22). 

Six South Asian countries took part in the four day event except for Afghanistan and Bhutan. 

Champions India was represented by 53 swimmers who took part in 191 events. 

Hosts Sri Lanka was the runners-up winning 28 Gold, 66 Silver and 95 Bronze medals, totaling 189 medals. Sri Lanka was represented by 87 swimmers and participated in 226 events. 

Bangladesh was in third position with two Gold, 2 Silver and 5 Bronze medals, making a tally of nine medals. 

Sri Lanka’s leading swimmer Mathew Abeysinghe took part in 18 and over men’s individual events pocketing 5 medals and one medal in the Relay event. 

Kimiko Raheem won 5 Gold in individual events and 3 Gold in the Relays. 

Sri Lanka’s Kyle Abeysinghe, brother of Mathew Abeysinghe, won 4 individual Gold and one Silver. 

Mathew Abeysinghe won Gold in the following events: 100 Meters Butterfly, 200 Meters Freestyle, 200 Meters LC Meters IM, 100 Meters Freestyle, 50 Meters Freestyle. 

Kimiko Raheem won the 200 Meters Freestyle, 100 Meters Freestyle, 200 Meters Backstroke, 50 Meters Freestyle and 100 Meters Backstroke. 

Kyle Abeysinghe was placed first in the 200 Meters Freestyle, 200 LC Meters IM, 100 Meters Freestyle and 50 Meters Freestyle. 

For India Sanjay Calpakam Jayakrishnan was the top swimmer in the Under-15 age group winning Gold in 100 Meters Freestyle, 1500 Freestyle, 200 Meters Freestyle, 400 Meters Freestyle and 800 Meters Freestyle.