SLASU to form National Pool ahead of SAG

SLASU hopes to commence National Pool Training from January, 2021

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka has to start the National Pool training two years in advance if they are to become the leading swimming nation at the 14th South Asian Games (SAG), Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union (SLASU) President Nethru Nanayakkara has proposed to the Sports Ministry and the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.

The Pakistan Olympic Committee has undertaken the task of hosting the 2022 SAG in the city of Lahore.
Sri Lanka can reap the highest number of medals at the SAG in swimming and athletics but it is not prudent to commence training for the Games just six months or three months before the event, Nanayakkara pointed out.
When the SAG was hosted in Colombo in 1991, Sri Lanka managed to top the medals tally in swimming and athletics because preparations for this event began two years prior to the Games in 1989, said the SLASU President.

Taking this into account, SLASU hopes to commence National Pool Training for the 2022 Lahore SAG from January 2021, he said.

“A swimming National Pool has not been formed earlier except for the SAG. Most of the swimmers train with their personal coaches. However, novices and age group swimmers who earn points according to the FINA (world governing body) Ranking System are chosen for international competitions.” 

“A National Pool for swimming is formed only for the SAG. That is because there is a large contingent for the Games. According to our two-year programme, we will form a National Pool in 2021,” said Sri Lanka Aquatic 
President Nanayakkara.

A National Pool for swimming is formed only for the SAG. That is because there is a large contingent for the Games. According to our two-year programme, we will form a National Pool in 2021

The provisional National Pool will be chosen from the Novices and Age Group competitions and the SLASU hopes to conduct these events in the near future.

Swimming pools are being gradually reopened following Sports Ministry and Health Ministry guidelines after being shut down for three months because of the viral outbreak with Royal College and the SSC pools being fully functional. 

Since swimmers will need at least a month’s training before entering a competition, SLASU has hopes to conduct the Novices and Age Group Championships in September or October in order to pick a National Pool.