COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Mar 30 (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka’s reigning national swimming champion Minagi Rupesinghe has climbed to an impressive 126th place in the latest open water swimming world rankings published by World Aquatics on March 15, 2026, emerging as the number one swimmer in South Asia and underlining her rapid rise in the international arena.
The ranking comes on the back of her strong showing at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where she competed in the gruelling 5km open water event and finished 61st against a highly competitive international field. It marked a significant step forward for the young swimmer, who continues to gain recognition among the world’s elite.
Rupesinghe’s achievement is even more remarkable as she also holds the 23rd position in Asia, highlighting her ability to compete at a high level across the continent. Her steady progress reflects both determination and growing confidence in one of the sport’s toughest disciplines.
Speaking about her journey, Rupesinghe said she entered open water swimming at the age of 12. “My first competition was the Mt. Lavinia 2-mile sea swim where I placed second in the Under-15 category in 2018. I went on to win the Under-15 title in 2019,” she said.
Her career has since moved steadily upward. In 2024, she represented Sri Lanka at the World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Italy, competing in the demanding 10km race. The following year, she reached a major milestone by taking part in the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, describing it as the highlight of her open water career.
Rupesinghe stands out as one of the few Sri Lankan swimmers to make a strong impact in both pool and open water events. She holds a rare distinction as the only Sri Lankan swimmer to have represented the country at the World Aquatics Championships in both disciplines.
Her ability to perform across multiple formats has made her one of the country’s most valuable athletes in aquatic sports.
The reigning national women’s swimming champion, she also holds seven national records, showing her consistency and excellence over time.
With her rising world ranking and continued international exposure, Rupesinghe is fast becoming a key figure in Sri Lanka’s swimming future, carrying the hopes of the nation as she pushes towards even greater success at the international level.
Minagi Rupesinghe in action at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, where she earned her world ranking of 126th in open water swimming.-
