The Oarsmen from the varsity in heart of the Colombo metropolitan; the University of Colombo are in a conquest of brining the glory days of rowing back as they wait meekly to conquer the waters of the Beira with the Rowing season for the year 2015 just around the corner.
Rowing as a sport has been a highlight in the University’s sporting journals for a considerable time and the books of history recollects that the oarsmen from Colombo having been one of the heavyweights in the sport for a considerable time period both locally and internationally. The Colombo Rowers who toured Malaysia for the first time for the Malaysian Boat Race in 2010 saw themselves finishing the tournament off at fifth place in the men’s category while the women went on to win the Coxless Fours to take gold and an overall Bronze finishing third.
A confident UOC men’s captain Ashan Wettasinghe believes that his team will be able reinstate back the glory days in rowing. A fourth year rower, Wettasinghe has been a regular oarsman for the university who also has represented the team that toured Malaysia to row in the Malaysian waters for the Varsity Boat Race at three successive instances.
With his experience, Ashan looks at focusing on each race at a time. He mentions that he and his team will be eyeing to get back the Stanley Wijesundera Trophy back in the university’s premises after last year’s disastrous whitewash by the Moratuwa Men’s team.
The Men’s team has the likes of the experienced Fadhil Iqbal who is a third year rower who has had equal exposure to the sport both locally and internationally. UOC’s Lahiru Karunaratna & Dishan Leo will be the team’s Bowman for the races and is considered to be an important value addition to the team.
The Women’s team from UOC will have 9 in total with third year rower Geethma Werapitiya leading the side. The Women’s team from the Colombo, have been better performers in the races in comparison as skipper Geethma Werapitiya shares her say that her team will have a tough challenge ahead of them this season as they prepare for the Inter University Regatta this weekend.
The UOC women had the luck of securing two race wins in last years’ regatta and skipper Geethma will be looking at holding on to the two while they look at getting additional race wins.
The Womens’ team will have the experienced Geethma and the veteran Ayudhya Gajanayake who will have to step up and take leadership throughout the upcoming regattas if they intend at a top three finish in the nationals.
University of Colombo Alumni and former Oarsman Chamara Munasinghe is considered to be the man behind UOC rowing. Chamara, an old Royalists rowed for both college and university in the early 2000’s and currently is the head coach of the rowing teams. Chamara, who took up duties in a coaching capacity last September will be wanting his teams to go up the ranks as this would be his first full season as coach.
We wish the teams of the University of Colombo the very best of luck.
