BALI, Indonesia, June 12 (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka will field a strong team led by swimmers from the Ghefari Dulapandan Swimming School (GDSS) at the 12th Asian Open Water Swimming Championship to be held at Jimbaran Bay, Bali, Indonesia from June 13 to 15.
The six-member Sri Lankan squad includes three swimmers from the Ghefari Dulapandan Swimming School, highlighting the academy’s growing contribution to national swimming. The team will compete against Asia’s top open water swimmers in the prestigious continental championship.
The Sri Lankan swimmers are Dilanka Shehan of the Ghefari Dulapandan Swimming School, Charan Rupesinghe (Unattached-Overseas), Anarkali De Silva of Sri Lanka Army, Sehara Anuhansi De Silva of Ambalangoda Swimming Academy, Tharusha Perera of the Ghefari Dulapandan Swimming School and S Thomas’ College’s Hussain Faham of the Ghefari Dulapandan Swimming School.
Four members of the Sri Lankan team have strong links with the Ghefari Dulapandan Swimming School, namely Dilanka B. Shehan, Tharusha R. Perera, Thomian Hussain Faham, and Anarkali De Silva of the Sri Lanka Army, who also trains under the GDSS’ programme.
The team will be managed by Dr. Ghefari Dulapandan, who will also serve as Head Coach. Ahamed Zaid Faham has been named as Coach, while Lalith Gamage will serve as the Technical Official.
The 19-nation championship will be conducted at the Intercontinental Bali Resort, Jimbaran Bay Beach, with training sessions scheduled at the Klub Jimbaran Swimming Pool.
Competition will begin on June 13 with the men’s and women’s 5km events. The Mixed Relay (4x1500m) will be held on June 14, while the championship will conclude on June 15 with the demanding men’s and women’s 10km races.
Sri Lanka’s leading open water swimmer Dilanka Shehan was expected to carry the country’s main hopes in Bali, is facing financial challenges in preparing for the event. The talented swimmer was unable to secure sufficient funding for his participation and travel arrangements to represent the nation at the Asian championship.
