The Sri Lanka junior sailing team is scheduled to fly out today headed for Malaysia to contest one of the biggest sailing events – the third Langkawi Youth Sailing Championship 2024 in from June 19 to June 23.
The 11-member team comprises nine students from Royal College and one each from S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and Ladies College.
Minuga Hettigamage, Randira Hangarangoda, Binal Perera and Luqmaan Aneeq from Royal College and Haren Wickramatilaka from S. Thomas’ College will represent the Optimist Class.
Yusef Hazari and Saditha Gamage will race in the ILCA 4 category while Omar Hazari and Taalya Tranchell will contest the ILCA 6. Anuda Silva and Sakindu Denipitiya will take up the challenge in ILCA 7. The team will be accompanied by national coach Krishan Janaka and the ILCA national coach Roshil Nisantha with Varunanathan Satsorupen as manager.
“Sailing has been an integral part of Sri Lanka through the ages and we are keen on promoting the sport as this is an island nation with the perfect conditions. We have no doubt our young sailors will continue to shine on international waters,” said the Director General of Sports, Dr. Shemal Fernando.
The Sri Lankans will compete against some of the world’s top racers from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Cambodia, Myanmar and Hong-Kong. The team also boasts of seasoned sailors including Taalya Tranchell of Ladies College, who represented Sri Lanka at the last Asian Games, and three times national champ Yusef Hazari of Royal College, as well as several other national podium winners.
Over 200 sailors will drop into the Langkawi waters for four days of head-to-head competition as the best sailors from across the globe fight for their respective titles.
Sailors under 21 will race their boat classes including the Optimist, ILCA 4, ILCA 6, ILCA 7, International 420, 29 ER and Windsurfing classes.
“The junior national sailing team has been training hard for this championship and we have no doubt that they will bring back glory to Sri Lanka,” said Sarath Kuragama, the Chief Operating Officer of the Yachting Association of Sri Lanka, the national sailing body of the country.
The Youth Sailing Championship is an offshoot of the Langkawi International Regatta Perdana, the Prime Cup, which is a world ranking event in its 21st year.
“The Junior Championship evolved from the main event and our intention was to provide a platform for young sailors to shine,” said Mohamed Afendi Abdullah, Chairman of the event and International Racing Officer. “We are intent on providing the best championship that’s fair to all and want our sailors to enjoy Langkawi.”
