AIS rowers prove unstoppable at 40th National Championships

Asian International School’s junior boys’ rowing team

Asian International School (AIS) clinched the Junior Boys Overall Championship at the 40th Senior, Intermediate and Junior National Rowing Championship organised by the Sri Lanka Amateur Rowing Association (AASL), which concluded on Saturday at the Diyawanna Rowing Centre in Battaramulla.

Captain Venuk Panduwawala, along with vice captains Avishka Wijegunaratne, Abishek Wijegunaratne and Binuk Premaratne, led their team to victory in multiple categories.

In the Under-15 category, AIS athletes dominated the competition. Sonal Tranchell claimed the top spot in the Single Scull event, while he and Joel Weerasingham secured first place in the Double Scull. 

In the Quadruple Scull event, AIS secured another first place with the team of Joel Weerasingham, Ruveen Pieris, Dhian Panduwawala and Rayyan Irfan with Liyan Jayasena completing the victory.

AIS also delivered strong performances in the Under-17 category.

Shayden Gunaratna and Raaidh Rasheed rowed to second place in the Double Scull event.

The Quadruple Scull crew of Shayden Gunaratna, Raaidh Rasheed, Janiru Ranasinghe, Diyan Haleemdeen and Liyan Jayasena also claimed second place, adding more valuable points to the school’s tally.

In the Under-19 category Shaylon Gunaratna triumphed in the Single Scull event, while he and Shivanedra Goonewardena won the Double Scull event. The AIS team also took first place in the Quadruple Scull (A) event with Daanish Haleemdeen, Shivanedra Goonewardena, Inesh Tharun Peiris and Venuk Panduwawala leading the way. AIS also made a strong showing in the Quadruple Scull (B) event, with Binuk Premaratne, Avishka Wijegunaratne, Abishek Wijegunaratne and Daniel Weerasingham finishing in third place. 

In the Pair event, Captain Venuk Panduwawala and Daanish Haleemdeen secured second place, while Shaylon Gunaratna also claimed the title of Schoolboy Sculler in first place. (AO)