Sri Lanka Athletes leave tomorrow for 20th Asian Athletics C’ships
Sri Lankan athletes comprising of eight men and 12 women will leave the island tomorrow to participate in the 20th Asian Athletics Championships scheduled to be held from July 3 to 7 at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune, India.
High Jumper Manjula Kumara will carry Sri Lanka’s hopes
The contingent which is the biggest to participate at the Asia Athletics Championships will be accompanied by seven officials.
The men’s contingent comprises the national high jump champion Manjula Kumara, Sachith Maduranga, Chamara Nuwan Gamage, Dilan Aloka, Y.M.W.G.M. Gunaratne, T.H.D. Priyashantha, Mahinda Jayasekera and Kalhara Seneviratne.
Chamara Nuwan is due to participate in the triple jump event while Maduranga in the javelin throw. The remaining five athletes have been slotted to participate in the track event with Dilan and Gunaratne being the two to take part in the 400m races.
The duo along with Gunaratne, Priyashantha, Jayasekera and Seneviratne will be part of the 4 x 400m relay event.
The women’s contingent comprises Jani Chathuranga, Sujani Buddika, Chandrika Subhashini, W.K.L.A. Nimali, W.K.L.A. Dulakshi, Geethani Rajasekera, Christine Sonali Merreyl, Nadeeka Lakmali, Dilhani Lekamge, Dharshika Sandamali, Dulakshi Pathmakumari and Upamali Ratnakumari.
Jani will contest in the 100m while Sujani the 200m, Nimali will be featured in the 800m while Dulakshi and Geethani are scheduled to take part in the 3000m steeplechase and 5000m events respectively and Christine Sonali in the 400m event.
Nadeeka and Dilhani will be the two participants in the javelin throw event will be the javelin throw while the rest consisting of Dharshika, Dulakshi Pathmakumari and Upamali along with Sonali will be the foursome to participate in the 4 x 400m event.
Meanwhile the contingent will sans two members as Nadeeka Lakmali who won a gold medal and Sachith Maduranga a silver medal at the Asian Grand Prix held in Sri Lanka are undergoing training in Finland and they are expected to join the squad in Pune while Christine Sonali is due to arrive in the island today to join the contingent.
The seven officials accompanying the team are A.W. Nimalsiri (Manager), Y.K. Kularatne (Assistant Manager), Geethani Pathirawasam (Lady Chaperon), the three coaches Dervin Perera, A.J. Rodrigo, Badra Gunawardena and Miranda R. Lewis (Cuban Coach).
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