Marking a new beginning in aquatic sports history of Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU), the national governing body for all aquatic sports in the country will be hosting the South Asian Aquatic Championships that is expected to kick off at the Sugathadasa Indoor Swimming Pool Complex on the 18th of October this year.
It is after a long lapse of ten years that Sri Lanka will play host to an international sporting event of this calibre after the 2006 South Asian Games that took place in Colombo. A brainchild of the SLASU governing body, the South Asian Games will feature seven countries in the South Asian region attracting over 300-350 swimmers.
Speaking to ThePapare, Secretary of the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) added these words on the participation of the countries.
“This is the first time in ten years that we are organising an international event. The last time was the South Asian Games. We have 7 out of the 8 South Asian countries confirmed their participation. That includes countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Maldives, Bangladesh & Nepal along with Sri Lanka”
With slightly more than a month to go for the gala swimming event, the governing body is making all the necessary arrangements to make it a success. The swimming festival is set to commence on the 18th of October at Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium and is expected to conclude on the 23rd of October at the Galle Face green.
The speciality of the Sri Lanka edition will be that they will feature swimming, water polo as well as diving. The event that will start on the 18th of October with the opening ceremony at Sugathadasa will conclude with the sea swim at Galle Face. The swimming events will commence on the 19th and go on till the 22nd.
The competitors for swimming and diving will have three age groups, providing an opportunity for the junior swimmers also to participate at the international stage. The age groups will be between 13-14 years, 15-17 years and the open category will be for participants above the age of 18. The Water polo competition will be for players under 18 years.
The Sri Lankan trials for the South Asian Games will be held during the end of the month and the Sri Lankan contingent will be finalised by the first week of October.
, the national governing body for all aquatic sports in the country will be hosting the South Asian Aquatic Championships that is expected to kick off at the Sugathadasa Indoor Swimming Pool Complex on the 18th of October this year.){kind=link}