Akalanka sets new SL record, targets five SAG golds
Akalanka Peiris, who set a new Sri Lanka record in 50-metre backstroke in the current National Championships, targets five gold medals at the forthcoming South Asian Games to be held in December 1 to 10 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Akalanka Peiris in action - Pix by Ranjith Perera
Peiris, who also won the 100m gold medal yesterday at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium Pool, finished the 50m backstroke on Friday in 26.27 breaking the previous record of 26.33 set by himself last year.
“I am really happy to break a Sri Lanka record after a year’s hard work. My target is to win five gold medals at the South Asian Games next month,” said Peiris who will represent Sri Lanka in 10 events at the regional championships.
By the third day of the four-day national championships, there were 10 new national records established with the relays are scheduled for today (Sunday).
Emerging junior swimmer Hiruki de Silva took three gold medals with three new meet records. De Silva representing Gateway College, Dehiwala set 200m freestyle record in 2:17.86 minutes erasing the previous record of 2:20.21 minutes of Ramudi Samarakoon set in 2016.
Ganga Seneviratne competing in the Girls 100m Freestyle event
In the 800m freestyle, 14-year-old Hiruki de Silva won the gold medal with a record time of 10:21.70 shattering the previous record of 10:45.49 of Minagi Rupesinghe of St Bridget’s Convent, who also bettered the previous record with the new time of 10:37.25 minutes.
Hiruki de Silva, trained at Killer Whale Aquatics took the 100m freestyle gold medal with a new meet record of 1:03.06 minutes slashing the previous record of 1:03.63 of Ganga Seneviratne set in 2017.
Meanwhile, rising swimming star of St Bridget’s Convent, Minagi Rupesinghe also shattered three junior meet records. 14-year-old Rupesinghe established 100m backstroke meet record beating the record holder Akithmi Wasalathanthri of Lyceum International School Wattala in 1:11.23 minutes. Wasalathanthri, who held the previous record of 1:12.64 last year, clocked 1:12.93 to win the silver medal.
New national records:
Girls (Junior)
200m backstroke: Minagi Rupesinghe (SBC) 2:35.88 previous record 2:40.56 2018.
4x100m Medley Relay: Visakha Vidyalaya 4:59.55 previous 5:02.50 2017.
400m IM: Minagi Rupesinghe (SBC) 5:52.69 previous 5:59.52 2018.
200m freestyle: Hiruki de Silva (GCD) 2:17.86 previous 2:20.21 Ramudi Samarakoon in 2016.
800m freestyle: Hiruki de Silva (GCD) 10:21.70 and Minagi Rupesinghe (SBC) 10:37.25 previous 10:45.49 2018.
50m butterfly: Nesha Ratnayake (SIS) 30:48 previous 30.91 Hiruni Perera (Hen) 2014.
100m freestyle: Hiruki de Silva (GCD) 1:03.06 previous 1:03.63 Ganga Seneviratne 2017.
100m backstroke: Minagi Rupesinghe (SBC) 1:11.23 previous 1:12.64 Akithmi Wasalathanthri 2018.
Boys (Junior)
200m freestyle: Chris Pavithra (SPCC) 2:05.92 min previous record 2:06.08 of Amrith Perera (GCC).
Boys (Senior)
50m backstroke: Akalanka Peiris (SPC) 26.27 sec previous record 26.33 in 2018.