Jani back in the limelaight
View(s):By Naushad Amit
Major Palitha Fernando, the newly re-elected president of Athletics Association of Sri Lanka (AASL), revealed to the media that it will have a heavy international calendar ahead. Fernando who regained the position of president of AASL for a term of two yars, earlier served as its head for four years before ruling himself out of the contention last year.
“I’m not here to pinpoint any misconducts of the previous management or make petty excuses. The previous set of officials did everything according to their ability and it’s our duty to carry forward the good work. We will have a heavy international calendar to take part in 2013 and 2014. While looking into administrative perspectives our interest is to highly focus on these events,” Fernando told reporters at his inaugural press conference held at the National Olympic Committee auditorium in Colombo.
Sri Lanka kick-started its heavy list of international events with the first leg of the Asian Grand Prix which was held in Bangkok, Thailand yesterday. The AASL officials released a list of 22 athletes for the Asian Grand Prix which will be followed on Wednesday (8) in Chonaburi, Thailand and on Saturday (12) in Colombo under the management of veterans Dervin Perera and Badra Gunawardena.
The list includes sprinters Mohamed Zafran (100m) and K.K.K. Seneviratne (400m) with middle distance runner D.L. Samarajeewa who will compete in 3000m and 5000m runs. Interestingly sprinter Shehan Ambepitiya will not compete in the 100m dash event but his name has been included in the relay team.
In field events Eranga Fernando and I.D.S.S. Jayasinghe will compete in triple jump while D.M.M. Dissanayake will take part in the high jump event. In the javelin throw event Sachith Maduranga and Lakshan Dayaratne will vie for honours. In addition to Zafran, Shehan Ambepitiya, B.R.A. Hasaranga, P.S.A.C. Nadeeshan and R.M.G. Chamara will team up for the 100m relay event.
The girls’ list includes 100m sprinters Jani Chathurangi and Sujani Buddhika in addition to Chandrika Subashini (400m), Shanika Samanmali (800m) and W.K.L.A. Nimali (800m) in track events. Those who will compete in field events are L.D.D.E. Ratnasiri (long jump), Priyangika Madumanthi and Tharanga Vinodini in high jump and Nadeeka Lakmali and Dilhani Lekamge in javelin throw events.
“Next Saturday Sri Lanka will host 248 athletes in the third leg of the Asian Grand Prix. As a new committee this will be a massive challenge for us but we are certain of hosting a successful event. There will be a fleet of events for juniors, youths and seniors and our focus is to feature productive athletes for those championships ahead,” Fernando added.
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