Athletics: Sri Lanka hopes high at IAAF Junior Championship in Finland

The Athletics Association of Sri Lanka has high hopes that they will run in five finals at the IAAF World Junior (Under 20) Athletics Championships in Tampere, Finland from July 10 to 15. 

Sri Lanka will be represented by a 17 member contingent at the meet. 

There will be five boys, six girls and officials. 

The Sri Lanka team is scheduled to leave for Finland on Sunday (8). 

The Sri Lanka team is skippered by Aruna Dharshana of Weerakeppitipola MMV, Akuramboda. 

Major General Palitha Fernando, President of The Athletics Association of Sri Lanka stated that in the history of World Junior Athletics Championships Sri Lanka has never won a medal. 

"But this time a good team will represent Sri Lanka and medal hopes are high." 

Whatever the medal hopes are but 400M (men), 4X400 (men), 800M (women), 100M (women) and 3000M Steeplechase (women) will be able to qualify for the finals. 

Amongst them Sri Lanka team captain Aruna Dharshana (400M) and the men’s 4X400 Relay team are hopeful of winning medals. 

Aruna Dharshana returned a time of 45.79 secs in the 400M at the last Asian Junior Athletics held last month in Japan. 

That performance, according to IAAF World Rankings is amongst the first eight in the world. 

According to athletes taking part in the World Junior Athletics Championships, Aruna Dharshan is currently in fourth place. 

The 4X400M (men) at the last Asian Championships returned a time of three minutes 08.82 secs, which is also among the top six. 

Captain Aruna Dharshana said: “I am hopeful of winning a medal this time. My personal best 45.79 secs, is in eight place in the world, I am hoping to win a medal. My relay team is also in good shape and hope to run in the final,” concluded Aruna. 

The Sri Lanka team

Men: Aruna Dharshana – Weerakeppitipola MMV (400M and 4X400M), Pasindu Kodikara - Maliyadeva College Kurunegala (4X400M), Ravishka Indrajit (St. Benedict’s College Kotahena (4X400M), Pabasara Niku – Nalanda College Colombo. (4X400M), Harsha Karunaratne – A. Ratnayake MMV Walala (4X400M). 

Women: Amasha de Silva - Swarnamali Balika Kandy (100M, 4X400M), Dilshi Kumarasinghe- A. Ratnayake MMV Walala – (800M and 4X400M Relay), Sachini Tharaka Divyanjali – Lyceum Wattala (4X400M), Ishara Athidiya – Lyceum Nugegoda – (4X400M), Sandumini Bandara – St. Joseph’s Balika Kegalle - (4X400M), Parami Wasanthi Maris Stella – Kuliyapitiya MMV (3000M Steeplechase). 

Officials: G.L.S. Perera (Manager); Sunethra Karunanayake (Lady Chaperone). 

Coaches: R.W.M.A.H. Bandara, G.D.J.N. Jayasinghe, Y.M.N.K.D. Bandara and S.P. De Silva.