SINGAPORE, August 1, 2025 (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka’s short course national champion, Minagi Rupesinghe, unleashed a brilliant swimming at the 22nd World Aquatics Swimming World Championships in Singapore on Friday, setting a new personal best in the highly competitive 100m backstroke event. The 19-year-old former St. Bridget’s Convent swimmer surged through the race with poise and precision, clocking an impressive 1:06.91 and marking herself as South Asia’s fastest in the discipline.
Her time of 1:06.91 marked a new personal best and placed her 48th overall in a field filled with the world’s best.
Inside the gleaming Singapore Sports Hub Aquatic Centre, the air was filled with tension and excitement. The sound of splashes, coaches’ whistles, and roaring cheers bounced off the high ceilings. Flags from over 100 nations lined the pool deck, and athletes marched to the blocks with laser focus.
Amid this charged atmosphere, Minagi remained calm. As the buzzer sounded, she exploded off the wall, clean and powerful, her strokes smooth and fast. It was in the final lap that she surged, pushing past her competitors to touch first in her heat. She later swam the 200m backstroke, finishing second in her heat with a time of 2:23.70, placing 40th overall. In both events, she stood as South Asia’s fastest backstroker, a proud moment for Sri Lanka.
Her performance brought a wave of applause not just from the Sri Lankan camp, but from many around the arena, impressed by her smooth technique and powerful finish.
Joining her, Hiruki de Silva, Sri Lanka’s long course national champion, also made her mark. The atmosphere was intense as swimmers dove into the 100m freestyle, one of the most popular and competitive events in world swimming. Hiruki stayed strong through every stroke, and her time of 59.83 seconds won her heat and earned 49th place overall. In the 200m freestyle, she clocked 2:09.23, finishing second in her heat and placing 41st in the global rankings.
Just like Minagi, Hiruki also posted the fastest times for South Asia in both her events. Her cool-headed racing and elegant freestyle technique stood out in a sea of world-class swimmers.
In the men’s events, Binura Thalagala posted a time of 1:58.98 in the 200m freestyle and 4:16.80 in the 400m freestyle. Though he didn’t win his heats, the experience of racing at this level under bright lights and high expectations is seen as vital preparation for his future career.
Sri Lanka’s Paris Olympian Kyle Abeysinghe, well-known for his explosive speed, clocked 52.36 in the 100m freestyle, ranking 67th among 110. With cameras flashing and commentators tracking every move, he looked composed under pressure. He is set to swim the 50m freestyle, his preferred event, on Saturday.
While no Sri Lankan swimmer advanced to the semifinals, the spirit at the pool was unmistakable. The scent of chlorine, the glint of water under stadium lights, and the sight of athletes shaking hands after every race made it a celebration of talent and sportsmanship.
For Sri Lanka, it was Minagi and Hiruki who lit up the lanes—national champions, regional leaders, and swimmers on the rise. Their performances offer hope and pride, as the nation looks forward to the South Asian Games early next year.
