Lankans Asanka Nilaweera 7th, Suresh Kelum 10th in the world
Nilaweera (17) and Kelum (18) at Laser Run
In their maiden appearance,
Sri Lankans H.P.G.A. Suminda Nilaweera and K.L. Kelum Suresh were placed 7th and 10th in the World Rankings at the World Union for Modern Pentathlon (UIPM) Laser Run World Championships 2018, at Trinity College, University Centre, Dublin Ireland.
The championships were conducted from Under 11 to Masters 60+ with the participation of more than 400 Athletes from 28 countries.
Asanka Nilaweera and Suresh Kelum were accompanied by Ushan Kodagoda as team official.
Nilaweera and Kelum were the two top performers in the last Laser Run City Tour (LRCT) event held in Bandaragam last August. The 2 Athletes have been consistently performing well in the last 4 LRCT events in 2017 and 2018, conducted by the Modern Pentathlon Federation of Sri Lanka. They were ranked within the Top 10 in the World Rankings, regularly. It is a recognition by UIPM of the consistent performances of these 2 Athletes and a proud moment for them as well as MPFSL who have been organising these events regularly, to the standards set by UIPM.
MPFSL towards uplifting the sport in the country, had conducted 4 Global LRCT events so far in the country, covering areas such as Dehiowita and Bandaragama. Under the guidance of UIPM, MPFSL conducted a training programme for coaches in April and produced with level 1 certification.
Sri Lankan contingent after the event
Results
Laser Run Men Seniors-
1. Kardos Bence (Hungary) 10:01.01
2. Tom O’Brien (Ireland) 11.01.08
3. David Kindl (Czecoslovakia) 11:01.08
4. Harry Lane (Britain) 11:07.00
5. Amaro Teixeira (Poland) 11:50.03
6. Pantazdis Alexandros (Greece) 12:19.06
7. H.P.G.A. Suminda Nilaweera (Sri Lanka) 12:25.03
8. Geoffrey Delusier (Mongolia) 13:00.06
9. Christopher Rudolph (Canada) 13:02.00
10. K.L. Kelum Suresh (Sri Lanka) 13:25.08