KWA surges ahead on Day One of National C’ships

The defending champions, Killer Whale Aquatics (KWA), made an impressive start at this year’s Sri Lanka Junior and Senior National Swimming Championship, leading the medal tally on day one at the Hillwood College Swimming Complex in Kandy.

KWA swimmers showcased their prowess by securing five gold medals, five silver medals, and four bronze medals across the 20 finals held on the first day of the competition.

In a remarkable display, KWA’s men’s 400m senior Medley Relay team, consisting of Adeetha Siriwardena, Vinul Senanayake, Dhinal Weerasinghe, and Kyle Abeysinghe, clinched the gold medal in 3:56.82. Adding to the achievement, KWA’s second team, including Olympian Matthew Abeysinghe, Anusara Abeygoonawardane, Binura Thalagala, and Heshan Karunaratne, secured the silver medal with a timing of 3:57.87. The bronze medal went to Maldives.

In the women’s 400m senior medley relay, KWA’s team of Ganga Seneviratne, Neoma Kahandawa, Minuri Bartholamuse, and Hiruki de Silva seized the gold in 4:34.78. Asian International School’s team and Lyceum International School Wattala secured the silver and bronze medals, respectively. Sri Lanka Army’s SS Senaratne caused a major upset by winning the gold medal in the men’s 100m butterfly senior national final, beating Olympic swimmer Matthew Abeysinghe with a 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 dominate, 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, 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 impressive performance on day one sets the stage for an exciting and competitive Sri Lanka Swimming Championship.

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