BATTARAMULLA, Sri Lanka, July 27, 2025 (ePRESS) – Asian International School (AIS) emerged as the Junior Boys Overall Champions at the 40th Senior, Intermediate, and Junior National Rowing Championship, organized by the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL), held from 23rd to 26th July at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre, Battaramulla.
This year’s performance was one of AIS’s strongest ever, as their junior rowers dominated the Under-15, Under-17, and Under-19 categories, collecting golds and silvers in almost every major event.
The team was brilliantly led by Captain Venuk Panduwawala and Vice Captains Avishka Wijegunaratne, Abishek Wijegunaratne, and Binuk Premaratne. Their leadership inspired the entire squad to deliver top-level performances across all age categories.
In the Under-15 category, Sonal Tranchell stole the spotlight with a stunning win in the Single Scull event. He then teamed up with Joel Weerasingham to win gold in the Double Scull. AIS also won gold in the Quadruple Scull, thanks to the strong teamwork of Joel Weerasingham, Ruveen Pieris, Dhian Panduwawala, and Rayyan Irfan, with Liyan Jayasena completing the boat.
AIS showed depth and consistency in the Under-17 events as well. Shayden Gunaratna and Raaidh Rasheed won silver in the Double Scull, while the Quad Scull crew of Shayden, Raaidh, Janiru Ranasinghe, Diyan Haleemdeen, and Liyan Jayasena also took 2nd place.
But it was in the Under-19 category Shaylon Gunaratna, who previously won a gold medal at the Asian Coastal Rowing Championship, dominated the Single Scull. He then paired with Shivanedra Goonewardena to win the Double Scull, before joining forces with Daanish Haleemdeen, Inesh Tharun Peiris, and Captain Venuk Panduwawala to win the Quadruple Scull (A) event.
AIS’s second Quadruple Scull team also impressed, with Binuk Premaratne, Avishka Wijegunaratne, Abishek Wijegunaratne, and Daniel Weerasingham finishing 3rd. In the Pair event, Venuk Panduwawala and Daanish Haleemdeen secured silver. Meanwhile, Shaylon Gunaratna was also crowned School Boy Sculler, taking 1st place in that prestigious individual title.
Rowing is a flagship sport at AIS. Their success comes from years of dedicated planning, hard training, and strong athlete management. This remarkable achievement was made possible not only by the talent and discipline of the rowers, but also thanks to the Principal Harshana Perera, who has been a pillar of support for the team, and Head of Sports Nihara Bagoos, whose guidance and close supervision have played a vital role in building a winning culture.
This championship victory adds another proud chapter to AIS’s rowing legacy. With many of their athletes already competing at national and international levels, the future looks bright for this disciplined and determined team.
