35th Rowing Nationals to feature exhibition Para races
For the first time in history, the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) is planning to hold an Exhibition Para Race event at the 35th Nationals, which will be held from February 19 to 22 at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre in Koswatte.
One of the Para Rowing boats in possession of the ARASL - Pix by Amila Gamage
The waters on the 2,000-metre course next to the Diyawanna Rowing Centre has lately become a busy venue, with many oarsmen and oarswomen taking turns to train prior to the four-day main event. Among them are Para oarsmen from Army and other military institutions such as Navy and Air Force.
The ARASL has already sought permission from Army to allow its Para oarsmen to feature in the two intended exhibition races – the Para Single Scull and Para Double Scull. Apart from ARASL’s Diyawanna Rowing Centre, Army owns Sri Lanka’s only two Para Rowing boats.
“We see this as a great opportunity to have yet another first for Sri Lanka at the upcoming 2020 National Rowing Championships. The races would be conducted over a distance of two kilometres, in keeping with international standards. The ARASL believe that it will be a boost for the sport and for the country to host the first Para rowing event at the nationals,” Sithira Wickramasekara, the vice president of ARASL revealed.
The two exhibition races would be on display on the final day of the three-tiered event on February 22. Unlike other years, the ARASL has scheduled the Junior Nationals and Intermediate and Championships alongside the Rowing Nationals inside four days.
Last year, the Junior and Intermediate champions were held prior to the Nationals in order to provide the junior and aspiring athletes to qualify for the core event.
Sithira Wickramasekara
“We thought that by having all three events together, it would bring that excitement to the sport and enthusiasm among the young and aspiring rowers. It will be a good event to see the whole rowing fraternity coming together at a single venue and displaying their capabilities at different levels,” Wickramasekara added.
Over the years the ARASL has concentrated in developing the sport within the country and were able to enjoy dividend with achievements at Asian and international level. With the limited funding and resources, yet rich with highly energetic and keen individuals, the ARASL has worked tirelessly to bring the sport to the level where it is now.
“Currently the ARASL has an affiliation of 18 clubs, including the Army, Navy and Air Force in addition to three universities and some prominent schools. For the first time in history, Sri Lanka was able to clinch a silver and bronze medal at the Asia Cup Rowing Championships 2019 held in Pattaya, Thailand in December. All these are because of the ARASL’s keen interest in developing the sport to the highest level possible, and bringing the Junior, Intermediate and Nationals together in one event is another step forward,” he explained.
The merged nationals will now attract closer to 600 athletes from all the affiliations of ARASL during the four days next week. The event is conducted under the patronage of the Ministry of Sport and strict guidelines of the Fédération Internationale des Sociétésd’ Aviron (FISA), or the International Rowing Federation which governs the sport of rowing globally.
Apart from two age categories of the Junior Championship – the Under-14 (500m) and Under-16 (1,000m), the remaining events will be conducted on the full course of 1,960 metres or two kilometres.
Nearly 200 races under 36 different events together at Junior, Intermediate and National levels are expected to take place on the Diyawanna waters. The winners will be deemed as the best athletes of the nation in each category and will be invited to the national squad for selection to represent Sri Lanka at international events. The ARASL is assisted by the Ministry of Sports, Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, Sri Lanka Army, Navy and Air Force in organising the National Championships.