Sri Lankan Schools excel at Varsity Boat Races in Malaysia
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A group of 15 athletes from Colombo schools took part in the Varsity Boat Races in Putrajaya, held from October 3 to 8, which is an annual event organised by the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia. The event had a participation of around 400 students from universities and schools across Asia.Over 12 schools from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka participated in the races in Junior Men and Women categories. The Sri Lankan contingent comprised of Navithmee Perera, Sanuthmee Perera and Menoli Yatigammana from Diyawanna Rowing Academy, Havishka Perera from British School in Colombo and Diyawanna Rowing Academy, Tashiya Perera from Diyawanna Rowing Academy, Jaanya Kumarawadu, Ganindu Kirinde, Reshil Peiris and Nathon Gregory from Gateway College, Derion Spittel, Dimitri Nalliah and Oshada Haputhenna from Wesley College and Sulaiman Saleem, Kester Weerasinghe and Sanija Ganewatte from Wesley College and Diyawanna Rowing Academy. The team was coached by Nirmal Gunaratne, who guided the squad for some outstanding results that were achieved by the youngsters, winning a total of nine medals.
The individual achievement were won by Jaanya Kumarawadu, Havishka Perera, and Sanuthmee Perera in the Junior Women Single Scull. Jaanya, a junior national rowing pool athlete from Gateway College won the gold medal while Havishka, also a junior nation rowing pool athlete from British School in Colombo and Diyawanna Rowing Academy claimed the silver medal. Sanuthmee performed to her potential, but the oarswoman from Visakha Vidyalaya and Diyawanna Rowing Academy had to be contended placing fourth in the race.
In the Junior Women Double Scull, Sri Lanka Schools impressed again with Havishaka Perera of British School in Colombo and Diyawanna Rowing Academy and Tashiya Perera of Diyawanna Rowing Academy winning the gold medal. The pair of Navithmee Perera and Menoli Yatigammana of Diyawanna Rowing Academy were placed fourth.
In the Junior Men Single Scull Darion Spittel of Wesley College won the silver medal while Nathon Gregory of Gateway College won the bronze medal. Wesley’s Sulaiman Saleem had a brilliant race, but ended up placing fourth eventually.
Sri Lanka Schools made a clean sweep in the Junior Men Double Scull dominating the podium by claiming all three medals on offer. Ganindu Kirinde and Reshil Peiris of Gateway College raced their way to claim the gold medal in an all-Sri Lankan battle, as Sanija Ganewatte and Kester Weerasinghe of Wesley College and Diyawanna Rowing Academy followed close to finish second, claiming the silver medal. Dimitri Nalliah and Oshada Haputhenna of Wesley College rowed up to their potential, and finished close with the bronze medal.