Sports
Dhammika Ratnaweera
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The major tournament in the Sri Lankan Athletic calendar centenary National Athletic Championship is set to go forward as planned from April 8 to 10 at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium Diyagama.
This National Championship will function as the last selection trial for the 2022 Asian Games and it also gives local athletes to get the required qualification standard for major international events. The first selection trial was held in February at the Sugathadasa Stadium but the second trial, which took place earlier this month, was moved to Diyagama.
Earlier few athletes from Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Maldives have confirmed their participation in this national championship but due to the present situation in the country, SLA decided not to bring overseas athletes for the National championship. However locally, 520 male and 215 female registrations have confirmed the SLA for the National championship. The Asian Games contingent is yet to be decided by SLA but Sri Lanka hopes to field at least 20 athletes for the Asian Games which is scheduled to be held from September 10 to 25 in Hangzhou, China.
Sri Lankan Champion Javelin Thrower Olympian Sumeda Ranasinghe, South Asian Games medalist Sarangi Silva in the long jump were able to reach the Asian Games qualifying standard in the previous two trials while the US-based athletes Ushan Thivanka in the men’s high jump and Danushka Sandaruwan in the long jump and Italy based sprinter Olympian Yupun Abeykoon are among the top athletes who have almost secured their tickets for the Asian event. In addition, Gayanthika Abeyratne the 1500 m women’s champion, 400m mixed relay team, and 400m women’s relay team have good chances to get medals at Asian Games. The president of the SLA Major General Palitha Fernando already predicted more than six Asian medals are possible this time. Sri Lankan athletes were not able to get a single medal in the last 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta while only two medals (one gold and silver from cricket) were won at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. However, SLA has more expectations about local athletes this time. Few Sri Lankan athletes already really performed well at overseas training (Yupun Abeykoon, Ushan Thiwanka, Dhanuska Sandaruwan) while at least 20 athletes, many of whom will be selected by the existing Elite Pool, which is currently in training in Colombo as well as high attitude training in Nuwara Eliya to focus on Asian Games. SLA and the Sports Ministry supply all facilities to get them to a higher level before the Asian Games.
Wednesday, April 6, 2022 – 01:00
