Royal College swimming and diving teams off to Thailand for international competition

Seated from left: Nabeel Nisthar, Chanaka Wickremesinghe (Diving Coach), M.A.M. Riyaz (Senior Games Master), B.A. Abeyratne (Principal), Jayantha Gunasekera (Teacher-in-Charge), Nishantha de Costa (Swimming Head Coach) and Kingsly Bandula (Swimming Assistant Coach). First row standing from left: Mikhail Jayaweera, Sulaiman Shihar, Kevaan de Costa, Daham Marambe, Kuvindu Silva, Thinal Jayasinghe, Thisas Sanuga, Emika Batepola, Geesath Fernando and Seniru Rodrigo. Second row from left: Yusuf Shihar, Venuka Kankanamge, Hithesh Jayawardena, Tehan Gunatilaka, Vimath Nahallage, Suvindu Garusinghe, Senupa Rathnayake, Senitha Weerasekera and Thisul Fernando. Third row from left: Revan Abeyratne, Matheesha Marambe, Induwara Gunawardena, Vidmal Indikethihewage, and Delshan Wijethunga

Royal College diving and swimming teams, which excelled in most local tournaments this year, will take part in an international tournament next week in Thailand.

The group comprise of 18 swimmers and 11 divers with four participating in the both events. Both teams which excelled in this year’s national age group games and National Schools Games will participate in the Asian Open Schools Swimming and Diving Championship from 18 to 19 December held at Thammasat University in Pathumthani. 

The swimming team is coached by 1991/1993 SAF games Gold medallist Nishantha De Costa while Sri Lanka ex-national and former Dharmashoka swimmer Kingsly Bandula is the assistant coach. 

The diving team is coached by Chanaka Wickremesinghe, an Asian Games Bronze medallist, while D.A. Jayantha Gunasekara is the Master-in-Charge of the team. 

The team also will get exposure in an international standard training at the state-of-the-art swimming and diving pools at the university.