Kandy, Dec 27, Wed – The defending Senior National champions, Killer Whale Aquatics (KWA), made a dazzling start at this year’s Sri Lanka Junior and Senior National Short Course Swimming Championship, organized by the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU), leading the medal tally on day one at the Hillwood College Swimming Complex in Kandy.
The prowess of KWA swimmers was on full display as they clinched an impressive haul of five gold medals, five silver medals, and four bronze medals across the 20 finals held on the opening day of the five-day competition.
In a standout performance, KWA’s men’s 400m senior Medley Relay team, featuring Adeetha Siriwardena, Vinul Senanayake, Dhinal Weerasinghe, and Kyle Abeysinghe, secured the gold medal in a commendable time of 3:56.82. Adding to the triumph, KWA’s second team, comprising Olympian Matthew Abeysinghe, Anusara Abeygoonawardane, Binura Thalagala, and Heshan Karunaratne, clinched the silver medal with a timing of 3:57.87. The bronze medal went to the Maldives.
In the women’s 400m senior medley relay, KWA’s team of Ganga Seneviratne, Neoma Kahandawa, Minuri Bartholamuse, and Hiruki de Silva claimed the gold in an impressive time of 4:34.78. Asian International School’s team and Lyceum International School Wattala secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
A major upset unfolded in the men’s 100m butterfly senior national final as Sri Lanka Army’s SS Senaratne secured the gold medal, defeating Olympic swimmer Matthew Abeysinghe with a remarkable time of 55.46 seconds. In the women’s 100m Butterfly senior national final, Nabhashie Perera of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya claimed the gold medal.
KWA continued to assert its dominance with a clean sweep in the men’s 200m backstroke senior national finals, securing gold, silver, and bronze with Heshan Karuanratne, Binura Thalagala, and Adeetha Siriwardene, respectively.
Ganga Seneviratne, recognized as Sri Lanka’s highest FINA point female swimmer from KWA, clinched the gold medal in the women’s 200m backstroke senior national final.
Olympian Matthew Abeysinghe triumphed in the men’s 50m breaststroke senior national final, while Asian International School’s Christina Perumal secured the gold in the women’s 50m breaststroke senior national final.
In the men’s 400m freestyle senior national final, KWA’s Binura Thalagala and Anusara Abeygoonawardena secured the gold and silver medals, respectively. KWA’s Hiruki de Silva claimed the gold in the women’s 400m freestyle senior national final.
KWA’s outstanding performance on the first day sets the stage for an exciting and competitive Sri Lanka Short Course National Swimming Championship ahead.