Gateway quartet to represent Sri Lanka in Chess, Squash and Rowing

At a time when Gateway College is on a drive to catch up on missed time and opportunities due to the pandemic, four of its students have brought honour to their alma mater by performing exceptionally well in their respective sports to qualify to represent the country. 

Following the Sri Lanka National Chess Championships 2022 conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, Gateway’s Nabil Nazar Mohamed was selected to represent the country at the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022 in India. Interestingly, Gateway’s coach, FIDE Master Isuru Alahakoon, too will be in the team but Nabil’s teammate at Gateway, Brijeash Sarawanabhawan narrowly missed out from being selected to the Sri Lankan squad. 

Bihandu Nanayakkara and Manuth Dassanayake have been selected to the national squash team to represent Sri Lanka at the 29th Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships 2022 to be held in Thailand in June. Incidentally, Gateway’s coach, CH Thalagala has been chosen as the national coach.

Nanayakkarais currently the Junior national champion in the Under 13 age group and third in Under 15 age group. He has performed consistently,to be champion at the Under 9, 11 and 13 levels. Eleven-year-old Manuth Dassanayake is the Under 11 national champion and the runner-up of Under 13.

Meanwhile,Mithyl Wickramasinghe of Gateway College has been selected for the Junior National Development Pool for Rowing (Under 16) after his performances at the Junior Nationals that were held in March and the Indoor Rowing Championship that was held in April 2022.