Leading badminton player in the Under 18 age group Dilshan Umayangana Kariyawasam of Ananda College Colombo is Sri Lanka’s first choice for the first ever Youth Olympic Games to be held in Singapore from August 10 to 26. However he is being challenged for this position by Lekha Shehani of St. Mary’s Moratuwa.
The Sri Lanka’s National Olympic Committee’s choice is Dilshan going by the performances the lad has produced at Asian level. They are unable to nominate two representatives due to the restrictions laid down by the Singapore YOG Organizing Committee as Sri Lanka has been granted only one Universality Place in the sport.
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| Dilshan Umayangana Kariyawasam |
Whilst Dilshan is the Number One in this age group, Lekha is number Two. Since of late Lekha has made representations to the Sri Lanka Badminton Association and the Ministry of Sports that she should be the island’s number one choice at the YOG in Singapore. However Sri Lanka’s NOC is not in a position to alter the situation as Dilshan has all the necessary qualifications, gained on sheer merit at international level to be Sri Lanka’s number one choice.
Prof. Ranjit Silva of the Sri Lanka Badminton Association when contacted said that Dilshan is obviously the Number One choice because he has performed extremely well at the Asian Championships Team events in Malaysia and has even trained abroad. Lekha is the second choice in this age group and she unfortunately cannot represent the island due to the rules laid down by the Organizing Committee of the Singapore YOG and the International Olympic Committee.Lekha Shehani is however adamant that she should be the first choice for the event.
Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Volleyball Team which left to Iran to take part in the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Asian Qualifying Tournament went down fighting to the strong South Korean team on Friday.
However the Sri Lankan boys created history when they beat their more fancied opponents in the first set by 25-21. They however went down fighting in the next three sets (18-25, 17-25, 19-25) giving a commendable fight.
Sri Lanka will play Iran, China and Australia in the coming days. The contest ends on May 21. Sri Lanka has been classed into Group A with China, South Korea and Australia. The teams in Group B are: India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei and Thailand. According to reliable sources the team will have to do well to qualify for the YOG at least come between the top three teams in the competition.
The Sri Lanka team is coached by Charles Thilakaratne while former National skipper Sampath Abeysinghe is the trainer of this team.
The members of the Sri Lanka Volleyball team for the Asian Qualifier are: Deepthi Rumesh, Sadun Madushanka, Sammi Amal, Manoj Jayasinghe, Dilanka Sampath, Hiranya Kesala, Sajeewa Lahiru, Madushanka Wickremasinghe, Wasantha Lakmal, Ushan Sandamal, Nisala Madushanka, Ashen Jeewantha, Isuru Promadya, Shehan Sachintha, Lakmal Priyadarshana and Namanja Madushanka.
The others ear-marked for the Singapore YOG from Sri Lanka are Table Tennis players Hasintha Sashiranga of Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda, Nuwani Navodya also of Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda and long distance runner Indunil Herath of Wallala Central Menikhinna. Indunil Herath is a promising long distance runner having done well in the 800 meters. However he will have to compete in the 1000 meters at the YOG in Singapore.
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| The Sri Lanka Under 18 Volleyball team which left to Iran to take part in the YOG Asian Qualifier with officials headed by Dilan Perera, President of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation. |
Indunil Herath can be seen in action when he takes part in the Sir John Tarbat Athletic Championships organized by the Sri Lanka Schools Athletic Association of the Ministry of Education to be held from May 24 to 26 at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Sri Lanka is also trying their utmost to have a judoka and a Taekwondo player for the event as well. The young judoka ear-marked for the event is Chamara Nuwan Dharmawardena and the Taekwondo player is Malithi Prematilleke. |
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