Lankan swimmers do well in Doha
View(s):Three local swimmers Matthew Abeysinghe, Machiko Raheem and Kiran Jasinghe collectively shattered 10 Sri Lankan Short Course records at the 12th FINA World Championships held in Doha, Qatar. Besides the trio, all six swimmers who were in the Sri Lankan contingent bettered their own personal best times at the championships held from December 3 to 7. This was the most successful participation for the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union at international level.
Abeysinghe erased the 50m Backstroke held by Heshan Unamboowe along with two of his personal records, while Kiran established a hat-trick of records of the three Breaststroke events including one established by his brother Ryan Jasinghe earlier this year. In the women’s category Machiko established new records in all the four events she took part, which inclusive of two personal records.
Abeysinghe took part in four events; the 100metres backstroke, 50metre backstroke, 100metre freestyle and the 100metre individual medley. He clocked 56.05seconds in the 100metre backstroke to finish 54th among 89 participants. Abeysinghe’s record-breaking feats came in his next three events he took part. He timed 25.57seconds, finishing 50th among 107 swimmers in the 50metre backstroke, finished the 100metre freestyle in 49.75seconds to place 47th among 152 and also placed 47th among 84 with a timing of 56.71seconds in the 100metre individual medley to establish three new national records.
Kiran, who set records in all three events he took part clocked 1:04.94seconds in the 100metre breaststroke to finish 69th among 96, timed 2:21.61seconds in the 200metre breaststroke while finishing 41st among 54 and placed 67th among 106 participants clocking 29.74seconds in the 50metre backstroke.
Machiko, the most successful swimmer in the Sri Lankan contingent reached her personal best and established new national records in all four events she swam. In the 100metre individual medley, she timed 1:06.01seconds while placing 41st among 62 and clocked 26.13seconds in the 50metre freestyle event placing 48th among 120. She was placed 45th among 67 participants in the 100metre butterfly stroke where she timed 1:03.54seconds and Machiko’s fourth record came in the 200metre freestyle event where she clocked 2:02.88seconds to finish 46th among 80.
The other members of the contingent Cherantha de Silva, Kimiko Raheem and Chamodi de Fonseka swam their personal best times in the majority of the events they participated. Cherantha took part in the 100metre butterfly stroke, 50metre freestyle, 50metre butterfly stroke and 100metre freestyle events. He clocked 56.82seconds, 23.90seconds, 25.40seconds and 52.58seconds respectively.
Kimiko appearing in 100metre freestyle, 50metre butterfly stroke, 50metre freestyle and 200metre individual medley events clocked 58.38seconds, 30.43seconds, 27.32seconds and 2:26.65seconds respectively. Chamodi took part in three events. She clocked 1:03.51seconds in the 100metre freestyle, 5:01.43seconds in the 400metre freestyle and 2:22.81seconds in the 200metre freestyle events.
Competing in the mixed 4x50metre medley relay, Kimiko, Kiran, Chranga and Machiko teamed up for Sri Lanka to finish 24th among 26 at a timing of 1:52.58seconds. The championship was also a new experience for the backstroke swimmers with the adoption of the new backstroke start device by FINA among the approval of some rule changes in other strokes. Manoj Abeysinghe accompanied the team as its head coach.
The swimmers having swum the 25m short course edition will be looking forward to qualification for the 50m long course edition when the 16th FINA World Championships takes place in Kazan from July 24 to August 9 in 2015.