The eight-member Lankan Olympic squad led by 2000 Sydney Bronze medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe will leave for Beijing tomorrow – August 4. Besides the eight athletes, a six member official delegation will also accompany them. However, Susanthika Jayasinghe who was on a one-year training course courtesy ministry of sports in the United States will join the contingent at that end. The games are scheduled to get underway on the 6th of August.

This will be Susanthika’s third appearance on the Olympic track. The thirty-three-year-old did not participate in any events at the Athens Games in 2004, in spite of being present at the venue. Susanthika Jayasinghe and the Javelin Thrower Nadeeka Lakmali are the only ones to have qualified for the games. The rest of the contingent made their entry through the ‘wild card’ system -- a quota given out to the developing countries. Besides the above, Prabhath Manuranga has got his credentials accepted for representation at the Olympics for Wushu, but he is not a part of the official contingent.

The track events of the Olympics will get underway on the 16th of August. The first heat of Susanthika’s 100-metre effort will be at 10.50 a.m. Beijing time (8.20 a.m. Sri Lanka time). The 200-metre first heat of Susanthika will be on the 19th of August 10.40 a.m. Beijing time (8.10 a.m. Sri Lanka time). The finals of these two events will be on August 17 and 21st.

Besides the official tour party of 14, there will be another 28-member delegation (not counting the presidential entourage and minister of Sports Bandula Basnayake (non-cabinet) who will also make the trip to Beijing. Among those who will make it to the games will be ministers Dilan Perera, Jeevan Kumaranatunge and P.B. Ekanayake along with Director Genaral Ministry of Sports D.B. Dahanayake and Secretary Ministry of Sport C. Liyanagama.

The squad:
Track and Field: Susanthika Jayasinghe and Nadeeka Lakmali. Manager Dhammika Nandakumara. Badminton: Thilini Jayasinghe. Coach Priyantha Wijesekera. Boxing: Anurudha Ratnayake. Coach Wasantha Kumara. Rifle Shooting: E.M. Senanayake. Coach Brig. K.W. Edema. Swimming: Mayumi Raheem and Daniel Lee. Coach Ruwan Manawadu. Weightlifting: Chinthana Widanage. Coach: R.B. Wickramasinghe Head of Contingent: Dion Gomes. Masseur: Anura Ranjith.