Sri Lanka gears up for Asian Rowing Meet

The Sri Lanka Rowing Team with officials  

By Susil Premalal   

Sri Lanka is set to send a team of 11 junior rowers to compete in the upcoming Asian Rowing Under-19 and Under-23 Championships.  

The championship, organized by the Asian Rowing Federation, is scheduled to unfold in Pattaya, Thailand, from December 14 to 18.  

The team had undergone an intensive four-month training programme at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre, guided by the National Coach Pedro Sanz, before their departure.  
The focus of their preparation has been to not only participate in the competition but also to pose a challenge to established rowing nations such as China, India, and Japan.  
The squad is a balanced mix of talent, featuring five female athletes — Nethuki Senanayake, Oneli Chandrasekera, Jaanya Kumarawadu, Rovynia Wijesekera, and Havishka Perera — and six male athletes — Kehan Sooriyarachchi, Disas Sooriyarachchi, Venuk Paduwawala, Mithil Wickramasinghe, Shivanedra Goonewardena and Shaylon Gunaratne.  

The Sri Lanka Rowing Association envisions this participation as a step towards building a competitive team for future Asian competitions.