Three KWA swimmers for FINA World Aquatic C’ships

Ganga Seneviratne- Matthew Abeysinghe- Ramudi Samarakoon

A trio of talented swimmers from Killer Whale Aquatics (KWA) is set to make a splash at the highly anticipated FINA World Aquatic Championships 2023, taking place in Fukuoka, Japan from July 14 to July 30.

Matthew Abeysinghe, Ramudi Samarakoon, and Ganga Seneviratne will represent Sri Lanka in this prestigious international tournament, which also serves as a crucial stepping stone for their qualification to the 2024 France Summer Olympics.

For 27-year-old Matthew Abeysinghe, a seasoned Olympian and South Asia’s most decorated athlete, the FINA World Aquatic Championships hold special significance.

Competing in his specialty events, the freestyles, Abeysinghe is aiming to secure a berth for his third consecutive Olympics, a feat that would set a record-breaking milestone in Sri Lankan swimming history.

With nine national records under his belt, including mastery in the 50m, 100m, 200m, and 400m freestyles, as well as the 1500m freestyle, Abeysinghe’s prowess in the pool is unparalleled in the country.

Rising star Ramudi Samarakoon, 20, is expected to dominate the breaststroke events at the championships.

Having recently shattered the 200m Breaststroke national record not once, but twice, within a fortnight, Samarakoon is in top form and aims to make her mark on the world stage.

Her achievements extend beyond the 200m Breaststroke, as she also holds the national record for the 100m Breaststroke, making her a formidable contender in her pet events.

Another swimmer to watch out for is Ganga Seneviratne, who is hailed as the finest backstroke swimmer in Sri Lanka.

The 200m Backstroke silver medalist in the recent Singapore National Swimming Championships, Seneviratne is expected to put on an impressive performance at the FINA World Aquatic Championships and showcase her skills on the international stage.

Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union Secretary, Mahinda Liyanage who also serves as the Team Manager for the tour, emphasized the importance of the FINA World Aquatic Championships for the three swimmers to secure their qualification for the Paris Olympics in 2024. This fortnight-long tournament offers one of three crucial opportunities for the Lankan swimmers this year to prove their mettle and earn their place at the prestigious global event.

Leading the trio as their personal trainer at KWA is Manoj Abeysinghe, who also the head coach on tour.