KRC crowned champions at Inter-Church Games

King’s Revival Church were crowned the overall champions of the Inter-Church Games 2018, which was held recently at the Royal Sports Complex. The games, which take on an Olympic-style competition, brings together churches from various denominations from across the country for a week-long sporting competition. 

Having commenced in 2009, the games are held once every three years. It was organised by Enforcers of the Call, a volunteer organisation of dedicated intercessors on a mission to spread unity and prosperity across the nation. The games brought athletes from around the island together representing 30+ churches who took part in cricket, swimming, netball, and badminton and track and field events. A road run, triathlon, tug-o-war and amazing race were also held this year. 

More than 2,000 athletes took part this year making it the biggest ever since its inception.

Reigning champions King’s Revival Church returned this year with a team of 215 athletes finally taking home the coveted championship for the second consecutive year. Led by Sharen Peiris (Captain) and Binethra Abeysekara (Vice-Captain), the KRC team held a margin of 1,050 points to the second place winners at the conclusion of the games. KRC also emerged third place winners in Cricket and Netball, while winning the overall Badminton, Swimming and Athletics championships.

At the Swimming Meet KRC’s Joanna Perera, Melissa de Livera and Lakmini Raymond won the age group championships for U11, 20-30 and 46-55 respectively while Raynan de Zoysa, Thilan Vithana and Lakshman Wickramasinghe won the 12-15, 31-45 and above 55 men’s age category championships. Renowned national swimmer Mevan Induruwa won the overall open men’s championship while also taking home the Gold in the triathlon. The athletes from KRC once again showed their prowess in track and field with young Sarah Wijesuriya and Dinil Rajaratne both winning the U11 athletics championships. Glory Perera and Mishael Amath won the 12-15 category championships while VC Binethra Abeysekera did her team proud with the 20-30 women’s and the overall women’s championships. Piorina Fernando representing the 31-45 age category also won the women’s athletics championship. 

“Guided by our Senior Pastor Jerome Fernando who represented the Sri Lanka U19 national side, KRC strongly believes in enriching the lives of our congregation through sports. Having identified the talents within the church KRC already has a cricket and basketball team playing at mercantile tournaments and hopes to introduce more sports in the future including netball and rugby. 

The KRC Sports Club also has a mandate to identify gifted sportsmen and women within our ranks and help them to achieve their God-given potential and be a testimony in the sporting arena,” said Ayesh Wickramasinghe, the President of KRC’s Sports Club.

The KRC Sports Club is centred on a mandate of Finance, Fellowship, and Friendship where the events it puts together brings together the entire church congregation and their extended families, raises funding for gifted athletes and creates lifelong friendships.

Pix courtesy Kontrast, Sanura Gunawardana, Enosh Perea and Sachin Punchihewa