08th October 2022 21:54:42 Hours
The Sri Lanka Army swimmers made a convincing victory to claim the Championship in the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU)-organized National and Junior National Aquatic Swimming Championships-2022 that got underway for four days ( 4-7 October) at Sugathadasa Stadium swimming pool complex
Sri Lanka Army swimmers proving nothing is impossible, impressively won the overall Men’s National Championship with 322 points after absence of 16 years breaking the 5-year reign of Killer Whale Aquatics team with a lead of 18 points. Sri Lanka Army secured the Championship with 15 swimmers under the guidance of Coach Major Roshan Peiris. Killer Whale Aquatics entered the final day with 26 points ahead of the Sri Lanka Army but Army swimmers showed how tables could be turned.
The National Individual Championships were won by Lieutenant H. D Akalanka Peiris of 5 (v) Gajaba Regiment of the Army, and Ramudi Samarakoon of Killer Whale Aquatics. Both the swimmers owned the title as Best Swimmers by establishing a new national record each, while winning 5 gold medals. Lieutenant Akalanka Peiris established a new national record in the Men’s 50 m Backstroke event with a time of 26.12 seconds on the 2nd day, breaking his previous record performed at the Commonwealth Games 2022.
Army swimmers altogether won 17 Gold medals, 5 Silver medals, and 2 Bronze medals in each category. 316 swimmers representing 64 swimming teams participated in the tournament. Major General Nishantha Manage, Chairman, Sri Lanka Army Aquatic Sports Committee and Director General General Staff in the Army who inspired them and provided much-needed assistance and guidance by way of coaching those team players congratulated all of them on hearing of their victory after 16 years.
The trophies and certificates were awarded on Friday (7) at the Sugathadasa Stadium during a ceremony.
Securing their 3rd consecutive National Champions title, Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo won the Women’s National Championship with a total of 211 points and the Boys' Junior National Championship was owned by St. Joseph’s College, Colombo with 173 points, and the Girls' Junior National Championship was won by Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya, Colombo 07 with a total of 128 points.
