Lankan swimmer Matthew lifts 7 Gold !

By our Sports Reporter

Guwahati, Feb 10: India continued its winning streak in the swimming events of ongoing 12th South Asian Games here, bagging five golds on the fil day of competition.However Sri Lankan swimmer Matthew Abeysinghe set the pool on fire picking 10 medals in the championship which included 7 gold.

Sri Lanka had to settled for three golds, after its women's relay team was disqualified even after topping the event on technical grounds.

Matthew Abeysinghe opened the gold's tally in swimming for Sri Lanka for day, setting a new SAG record of 2.09.63 minutes to win the 200m medley for men.He went on to win the second gold for the country, by again setting a new Games record of 51.23 seconds in 100m freetsyle for men.Kimiko Raheem secured the third gold for Sri Lanka, setting a SAG record of 57.20 seconds to win the 100m freestyle for women.

For India, Shraddha Sudhir clinched the first gold in swimming for the day, by winning the 200m medley for women.Veerdhawal Khade clinched the gold in 50m butterfly for men, setting SAG record of 24.54 seconds.The third gold for India came from Jyots Pansare, who notched the top spot in 50m butterfly for women.

The Indian men won the gold in 4x100m medley, clocking 3.49.78 minutes to set a new meet record, while the Indian women team also secured the gold in the same event.

In 200m medley for men, the silver was notched by Sanu Debth of India and Md Juwel Ahmed of Bangladesh.

In the women's event, the silver went to Gaurika Singh of Nepal and bronze to Uthama Silva of Sri Lanka.In 100m freestyle for men, Sri Lanka's Cherantha De Silva secured the silver, while the bronze went to Bangladesh's Mahfizur Rahman.The silver in 100m freestyle for women was won by Machiko Raheem of Sri Lanka and the bronze by Shivani Kataria of India.In 50m butterfly for men, India's Anshul Kothari won the silver and Sri Lanka's Cherantha De Silva won the bronze while in the women's event, Avantika Chavan bagged the silver and Sri Lanka's KA Hiruni Perera the bronze.

In the team events, Sri Lanka won the silver in 4x100m medley for men, while the bronze was notched by Bangladesh. Pakistan secured the silver and Bangladesh took bronze in the women's event, .

Though Sri Lankan women team were initially declared the winners, they were later disqualified as the last swimmer made an early start.

Meanwhile, talking to the media person after the competition at Sarusajai Sports complex Abeysinghe, the new star of the Game,  said, “ The performance is beyoned my expectation. I landed in Guwahati targeting four-five gold medals but I am successful to win more. I am really  happy with my performance as it is the best performance of my career in any level of competition that I took part till date..” Matthew’s brother Kelly was also the part of Sri Lankan swimming team and he too bagged few medals in the tourment. Among the women swimmers Kimiko Raheem and her sister Machiko Raheem too displayed some splendid performance in their pool and begged several medals.