Royal College, Bishop’s College shine at RCUAC Challenge Shield 2024

It was a power-packed day in the pool when 30 teams from Under-9, Under-11, Under-13, Under-15 and +25 Masters competed for the coveted RCUAC Challenge Shield 2024 now in its 3rd consecutive year. 

Organised by the Royal College Union Aquatics Club, the largest junior Water Polo Tournament saw the participation of 400 athletes. Organised with the aim of developing the sport among younger players over the next 5-10 years, the tournament has been well-accepted by clubs and schools alike.

The awards ceremony was held under the patronage of Rohana Dissanayake, State Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs as Chief Guest and Sanath Jayasuriya, Consultant, High Performance Centre, Sri Lanka Cricket as Guest of Honour.

The coveted Under-15 Boys championship was won by the hosts Royal College while the Under-15 Girls championship went to Bishop’s College. Sulaiman Shihar of Royal College and Sinali

Rathnayake of Bishop’s College were adjudged the Best Players of the Tournament.

The introduction of an Under-9 category for the first time in Sri Lanka was a significant highlight of the tournament where Nalanda College beat Royal College 14-04 in the Boys category while Visakha Vidyalaya won the Girls category on a round robin basis. 

The Under-11 category was also won by Nalanda College beating Royal College 10-09 in a close

game while Ladies College beat Bishop’s College in a 14-04 final of the Girls category.

Royal emerged victorious in the Under-13 Boys category beating arch rivals S. Thomas’ College 

20 - 04 while another round robin basis saw Visakha Vidyalaya walk away with the Under-13 Girls titles.

The last event for the day was the Royal College Masters Team vs. S. Thomas’ College Masters Team. The game was played to relive great memories and rekindle old friendships that have many a tale and story behind it. The love of the game surely prevailed until this last game. 

The schools and clubs participating were Bishops College, Visaka Vidyalaya, Ladies’ College, Museus College, Colombo International School, S. Thomas’ College, Nalanda College,Thurstan College, Royal College, RCUAC, OTSC. 

The Tournament Director for the Challenge Shield was Ulfath Uwais and his team comprising Kavindra Samaraweera, Musharraf Uwais, Mishan Kottearachchi, Lakindu Weerasinghe, Akindu Samaraweera, Randa Ranatunga and Reza Ghany.

The sponsors supporting the event were Silver Sponsors SLIIT, Curtin Colombo, and the Rangers - Royal College Batch of 2003. The co-sponsors in their respective categories were Emerging Media, TNL 101.8, Quadrangle, The Papare, Fonterra, Bairaha, Foodies, John Keells Office Automation, Ceylon Cold Stores, Jetwing Hotels and Nehemiah Consultants.