The place where Sonal’s rowing journey began. Asian International School provided his initial introduction to the sport and continues to play an important role in his development as both a student and athlete. Proudly representing the school locally and internationally, Sonal strives to uphold its values while pursuing excellence in both academics and rowing.

      The national governing body for rowing in Sri Lanka, the Amateur Rowing Association of Sri Lanka (ARASL) plays a vital role in developing the nation’s rowing talent. At just 12 years of age, Sonal was selected to the ARASL National Development Pool in recognition of his potential. Since then, he has continued to progress through the sport, benefiting from opportunities to train, compete, and gain valuable experience at both local and international events.

      Sonal’s home rowing club and primary training base, where he trains alongside his Asian International School crew. The club’s facilities, on-water access, and flexible training environment provide the ideal setting for his year-round development and competition preparation.

      During his first Croker Training Camp in 2025, Sonal was enrolled as an affiliate athlete with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), a relationship that continued into 2026. Through this affiliation, he gained valuable insight into one of Australia’s leading university rowing programmes. Time spent within the UTS high-performance environment, together with opportunities to interact with its athletes and coaches, broadened his international exposure and contributed significantly to his development as a competitive rower.