Only two divers from Sri Lanka
The Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) will not send swimmers or water polo players but send only two divers for the 10th Asian Aquatic Championships to be held in Japan from November 14 to 20.
Yasodha de Silva
Though Sri Lanka has Olympic swimmers with greater experience for the 10th edition of the Asian Aquatic Championships, the governing body, Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports has decided to send only divers without presenting swimmers or the athletes for the water polo events.
“After taking part in the recently concluded South Asian Aquatic Championships, our swimmers seem too tired and are not at their peak, so we decided not to send them to compete at the Asian Championships,” reasoned SLASU Secretary Migara Gunathilake.
The two divers, Dulanjan Fernando and Yasodha de Silva, who won two gold medals at the recent South Asian Aquatic Championship (SAAC) will be vying for top honours at the Asian Aquatic Championships by being the only duo to represent the country.
However, the SLASU hopes to send a few swimmers for the FINA Short Course World Championship to be held from December 6 to 11 in Canada.
“We hope to send three swimmers for the World Championships. They will be selected by the selection committee based on performances at the last South Asian Games, Olympics and the recently concluded inaugural South Asian Aquatic Championship,” the SLASU Secretary added.
The SLASU stated the reason for not including the Water Polo team for the Japan event was mainly due to financial constraints.
“The Water Polo team could not make it to Japan as we needed money and we are not in a position to foot the bill of the whole team,” Gunathilake explained.
With the negative aspect turned on, the SLASU has decided to be more careful in planning future foreign tours and international events. They expect to take time and plan ahead more effectively in the future as the SLASU has to inform the Sports Ministry to get the needed financial back up.
Dulanjan Fernando
“From next year, we will decide to which meet we should send our athletes, a year ahead to overcome financial problems.”
Dulanjan Fernando of Royal College and Yasodha de Silva have been among the top three divers in the country for the past few years.
They expect to reach the top and eye gold medals at their respective events.
Fernando and de Silva claimed the Best Divers Awards in the male and female categories respectively at the inaugural SAAC held last month at the Sugathadasa Aquatic Complex in Colombo.
The four-member Sri Lanka team, inclusive of two officials — Chanaka Hasantha as Manager and Kasun de Silva as Coach — will leave for Japan on November 15.