Athletics: Himasha leaves for World Indoor Athletic Meet

The Athletics Association has decided to send sprinter Himasha Ehshan for the IAAF World Indoor Athletic Championships which is scheduled to take place in Portland, USA on March 17 to 20. 

The Sports Ministry has made a special request that Himasha should be sent for the event. 

Himasha and his coach Chaminda Perera will leave for the event today (15). 

This is the first time in the history of athletics that an athlete will be taking part in a meet of this nature. 

Himasha was the fastest athlete at the recently concluded South Asian Games in India.

Meanwhile the 17th Junior Athletic Championships will take place in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam from June 3 to 6. 

The Sri Lanka Athletics Association is planning to send a team of 10 to 15 athletes for the four day event. 

The competition is for athletes, boys and girls, in the under 20 age group. 

A selection trial will take place on April 29 and 30 at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium. 

The President of the Sri Lanka Athletics Association Sugath Tillekeratne said that athletes who are capable of bringing medals to Sri Lanka will be selected for the event.

At the last edition of this event held in 2014 in Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka bagged three medals – one silver and two bronze. 

Sprinter Himasha Ehshan won a silver medal in the 100 metres event while Kaushalya Sewandi   (400 metres hurdles) and Vidusha Lakshani (triple jump) won bronze medals.