Navy oarsmen and women make a splash at National Rowing Championship - 2023

The Navy rowing teams made a big splash at the National Rowing Championship in 2023, with both the men's and women's teams putting in impressive performances. Thus, the title of Intermediate category and runner-up slot in the Senior category were won by male and female rowing athletes of the Navy. The 38th National Rowing Championship – 2023 hosted by the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) was held at Diyawanna Rowing Centre, Battaramulla from 29th March to 01st April 2023.

The tournament was held under Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories, over 04 days in the alluring waters of Diyawanna. It saw 09 male and 04 female rowers of the Navy Sailing Pool competing against some of the top players from 21 rowing clubs across the country.

In ‘Open Men’s Fours’ under ‘Senior National’ category, Able Seaman HASG Hathurusingha, Able Seaman WGSL Gunarathne , Able Infantryman ESVJN Premakumara and Able Seaman NGAN Gunawardna won gold medals. Meanwhile, in ‘Open Men’s Pairs’ Able Infantryman ESVJN Premakumara and Able Seaman JAN Madushanka managed to secure silver medals. Further, Able Infantryman Gunathilake and Able Seaman SMHD Samarakoon also won silver medals in Open Men’s Scull Pairs’.

In addition, Women Leading Seaman GGTU Sumanathissa and Women Leading Seaman WAU Subashini won gold medals in ‘Open Women’s Pairs’.

The gold medals for ‘Men’s Fours’ under Intermediate National category were bagged by Able Seaman HASG Hathurusingha, Able Seaman WGSL Gunarathne, Able Seaman BGDI Karunarathne and Able Seaman NGAN Gunawardena. In the same vein, Able Seaman BGDI Karunarathne and Able Seaman WDMSP Nandasiri secured gold medals in ‘Men’s Pairs’. Further, the gold medals for ‘Men’s Scull Pairs’ were won by Able Infantryman PGDS Gunathilake and Able Seaman SMHD Samarakoon. The gold medal in ‘Men’s Scull’ event was also won by Able Seaman WDMSP Nandasiri.

The women's team also had a strong showing, with Sub Lieutenant MN Madushani, Women Leading Seaman GGTU Sumanathissa and Women Leading Seaman WAU Subashini and Women Able Seaman SASM Jayasinghe won the gold medals in ‘Women’s Quadruple Scull Fours’. Moreover, Sub Lieutenant MN Madushani and Women Able Seaman SASM Jayasinghe added more gold medals by winning the ‘Women’s Quadruple Scull Pairs’ event.