Venuki Wijesena claims double bronze at Singapore Open

In a remarkable display of talent, Sri Lanka’s young artistic swimmer, Venuki Wijesena, secured her second consecutive bronze medal at the recently concluded 17th Singapore Open Artistic Swimming Championships held at the OCBC Aquatic Centre in Singapore from December 14 to 17.

Wijesena, a 14-year-old athlete based in Japan, clinched her first bronze medal on the opening day of the competition in the 13-15 years Youth Figure Competition. Scoring an impressive 62.0060 points, she claimed the third spot on the podium.

Undoubtedly, Wijesena continued to shine on the second day, bringing further honour to Sri Lanka by winning her second back-to-back bronze medal in the Solo Routine competition. Facing stiff competition from over 30 participants, her stellar performance showcased her dedication and skill.

The Sri Lanka team, consisting of 17 participants in various age groups, marked their return to international Artistic Swimming after a lapse since 2019. Team Manager Akhry Ameer expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasizing that Wijesena’s success in the solo routine was complemented by competitive performances from the rest of the team.

Ameer highlighted the significance of this international exposure, stating, “The main goal of this participation is to gain international competition experience and exposure given the long break due to the various setbacks in the last few years.”

Artistic Swimming, like many sports, underwent rule changes during the pandemic. Although the Sri Lanka Artistic Swimming Union adopted the new rules for this year, the swimmers participated in a hybrid rule setting in Singapore.

The Sri Lanka team, representing Aurora Synchro Club, Ladies’ College, Musaeus College, and Visakha Vidyalaya, showcased outstanding performances in the competition. Amongst more than 220 artistic swimmers from different Asian countries and clubs, the team’s commendable display was under the expert guidance of Dehara Katipearachchi. A former athlete in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, Katipearachchi served as the Head Coach, guiding the team to success.

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