Under the purview of Sri Lanka’s visionary way forward to the 2020 Olympics, the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) marking a first of its kind will host the South Asian Aquatic Championship this October.

The SLASU takes a major step forward in rejuvenating the aquatic sports arena as the first South Asia Aquatic Championship will take place from the 18th to the 23rd of October with the active participation of seven South Asian nations including India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and hosts Sri Lanka at the Sugathadasa Indoor Swimming Pool Complex.

A brainchild of the national body, preparations for this championship commenced during the South Asian Games held earlier this year where the national bodies met. Not limiting themselves to swimming only the championship will take place featuring all aquatic disciplines such as swimming, water polo, diving and open water swimming.

Speaking at the press briefing held ahead of the international event, Hon. Minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekara applauded the efforts of the national body and expressed his interests ahead of the next Olympic games.

The sport swimming has 38 events and it is an area which we can work on getting a medal. Similar to rifle shooting which has a wide range of events, swimming will be essential if we are looking at 2020.

The Sri Lanka Navy, who will be making all necessary arrangements to stage the grand scale event, will support the bold initiative taken by SLASU. Adding to the organising efforts, President of the Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) Commodore Jayantha Gamage mentioned these words.

We are excited to welcome the next generation of champions to Sri Lanka for such a significant international competition. This is a showcase event for the future of aquatic sports in our country

The championship will be following an age group model and will feature over 400 athletes from the seven countries. Sri Lanka will field in 160 athletes, including 85 swimmers, 25 divers, 30 water polo players and 20 open water swimmers.

The last time Sri Lanka hosted a major scale swimming event was way back in 2006 which was the South Asian Games and after a long silence of ten years, the South Asian Aquatic Championship is expected to attract major sporting events back to the country. Starting from 2016, the South Asian Aquatic Championship will be held every two years encouraging age group athletes to participate in an international scale event.

The opening ceremony will take place on the 18th of October 2016 with the presence of the Hon. Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara and is set to conclude with the Open Water Swimming event at the Galle Face green.  

Anchor Newdale will empower this event as Principle sponsor.

ThePapare.com will be bringing you the inside out of the international event as it happens from the 18th from the Sugathadasa Indoor Swimming Pool Complex.

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