t-sips invites Olympic Gold Medallist Mahe Drysdale to Sri Lanka to boost rowing

Gold Medallist at the recently concluded Summer Olympics in London and five times World Rowing Champion Mahe Drysdale is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka for a short visit in October. Drysdale visits Sri Lanka on the invitation of the fast rising tea brand, t-sips, the only tea brand in Sri Lanka to be SLS certified  produced by Expolanka Teas.

33-year-old Drysdale, representing New Zealand, won the gold medal in the men’s single sculls, recording a timing of six minutes and 57.82 seconds. He was also officially selected as New Zealand’s Olympic heavyweight sculler in 2008 and was the flag bearer at the parade of nations in the opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.  

On the invitation of t-sips, the Olympian and rowing legend will visit Sri Lanka in a bid to inspire, encourage and coach young oarsmen and women in the sport.  

t-sips has fostered and supported rowing in Sri Lanka for many years.  t-sips has sponsored the Royal-Thomian Regatta for three consecutive years and international rowing events such as the Far East Asian Rowing Association Championship (FEARA) and spearheaded the first ever Schools Rowing Championship in Sri Lanka, held in September 2012, where 14 schools from across the country participated.  Through the Sri Lanka Schools Rowing Championship, t-sips achieved a long standing goal of firmly establishing a platform to take the sport to national level and open it out to talent from across the country.

The visit by Drysdale is yet another endeavour by t-sips to boost rowing in Sri Lanka and promote the sport nationally.   

Speaking on his upcoming visit to the island, Drysdale said, “I am looking forward to my visit to Sri Lanka and spending time with the young talent in the country. I have been fortunate enough and very proud to have represented New Zealand at seven World Championships and two Olympic Games. I consider it my privilege to be able to share my knowledge and experience in rowing and help the sportsmen and women of Sri Lanka achieve great heights and make their country proud of them.”  During his stay Drysdale will meet and coach young Sri Lankan oarsmen and women, visit the Cerebral Palsy school in Wattala to create awareness about the condition - together with t-sips, and visit several places of attraction in the island.