Mar 21 2014.
views 2784The Synchronised Swimmers of Visakha Vidyalaya are presenting ‘Applause’, a concert that will be held on the 25th, 26th and 27th of April. The show is unlike any other that has previously been done by them, featuring modern hits that the girls have chosen, songs that they themselves love to dance to. Coached by Rovini Illukkumbura, the team of eleven girls from the ages of 14-17, is comprised of Piyusha Sumanapala (Captain), Nethmi Saranajeewa (Vice Captain), Aneka Abeywickrema,Thisuri Mendis, Bulani Perera, Sanuri Trikawalagoda, Sathinji Senanayake, Anarkali De Silva, Ranali Wijendra, Dinithi Wijendra and Janethri Kulawardena.
Aneka Abeywickrema took part in her first international event last October, the Hong Kong Synchronised Swimming Championship, and won a silver medal in the solo category! Rovini said of her win, “That encourages the rest of the team because it’s not like she went for any special training, she was just trained by me. This gives hope to everyone else to do well and practise hard. We’re really excited, her motivation has encouraged everyone else and it makes them feel like it can be done.” Though Aneka’s training was intense compared to her regular regime, it was still minimal for an international event. As she herself said, “It was really different compared to the standards of Sri Lanka, so it was difficult to practise, and you go there and realise that we have a lot to improve on.” Instead of letting that demotivate her however, she instead focused on the positive influence the experience had on herself and her team. “We can come to this level and it just made me realise that we have a long way to go, but we’re coming close. It makes you feel like you can get there. If you put your mind to it, you can get to the standard you want.”
Piyusha and Nethmi are very excited for the concert. While acknowledging that the practise is strenuous, they are now used to it because they’ve been training since they were quite young and they now enjoy it “because it’s all of us together, the whole team.” Speaking of their routines, they said that getting the beat right is difficult and since the different songs have different beats they get mixed up sometimes. Lacking an underwater music system won’t stop them. What’s their secret to a flawless performance? “We do it over and over and over again.” They practise on land and then in water until they’re perfect. They also design the costumes themselves, adapting Olympic swim team outfits and coming up with creative suits despite the lack of resources in Sri Lanka. These girls won’t take no for an answer.
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The concert itself is different this time. “The standard is higher and usually for concerts sometimes, they have old songs but this is really different and it’s more modern.” They’re targeting a new generation but their ultimate goal is the development of Synchronised Swimming. “We want to promote the sport more because in Sri Lanka there aren’t many people who do this.” They also want to perform well at Nationals, and they believe that all the hard training that is going into the concert will stay with them, and that the team will thus be better prepared for competitions. These girls are resourceful and determined athletes whose love for the sport shines through their performances.
By Marissa van Eyck
Pictures by Waruna Wanniarachchi
0 Comments
observer says:
Mar 22, 2014 at 12:00 amSounds like a very enthusiastic bunch of young ladies! Keep up the good work Visakians. Best of luck!