Athletics: Sri Lanka's medal hopes hinge on 11 weightlifters at CWG 2018

Weightlifting would be one of the main medal hopes at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and a contingent of eleven lifters who have qualified would be there at the Gold Coast, Down Under. The Games are scheduled to be held from April 5 to 21. 

According to National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) Secretary General Maxwell de Silva, the weightlifters are among the medal hopefuls at this year’s games. 

“The weightlifters have already qualified and a contingent of eleven lifters – seven men and four women -- will be taking part and I feel they are the biggest hopefuls for any medals at these games as before,” de Silva said.
 
Especially Chinthana Vidanage won a Gold and a Silver respectively at the 2006 Melbourne Games and 2010 New Delhi Games. 

At the Melbourne Games Vidanage competed in the 62kgs category while at the New Delhi Games he moved to the 69kgs. 

Meanwhile, Sudesh Peiris who competes in the 62kgs category won a Silver at the Glasgow Games in 2014 and Bronze at the New Delhi Games. 

The other certainties at the games are Rugby and Beach Volleyball which have already received the green light from the organisers, according to de Silva. 

A cloud is still hanging over the participation of the badminton team. 

This is because, as highlighted by the Sunday Times last week, the local badminton body remains suspended by the Badminton World Federation from mid October for violating international rules and regulations. 

The local body has been given time till December 31, to rectify the situation. 

But, it is a sorry state of affairs with the gymnastics. 

It is said that Aruna Prasad, president of the Gymnastics Association, had not updated the registration with the Commonwealth Games authorities before the cutoff date and they have been struck off the list of participants. 

It is also learned that one of Prasad’s siblings was also a hopeful in the same sport and is also among those struck out. 

Now it is said that Prasad is contemplating resigning from his post over that faux pas. 

However, the NOCSL secretary general added, “Though certain disciplines have already registered with the authorities, this time we are going to be very tough about the list of participants and only those who have been give the nod by the national selection committee would be permitted to make the trip to Australia." 

Commenting on the NOCSL AGM poser, de Silva said, “We will definitely have the Special General Meeting on January 4, 2018. Besides that, the NOCSL President Hemasiri Fernando is affirmative that the AGM will be held early February and the audited accounts statement will be made available prior to that date”. 

The list of Lankan medal winners at the Commonwealth Games: 

Gold: Barney Henricus at 1938 Sydney in Boxing Featherweight (57kg) 

Gold: Duncan White at 1950 Auckland in Athletics Men's 440 yards hurdles 

Gold: Pushpamali Ramanayake and Malee Wickremasinghe at 1994 Victoria in Shooting Women's Air Rifle – Pairs 

Gold: Chinthana Vidanage at 2006 Melbourne in Weightlifting Men's 62kg 

Silver: K. Edwin at 1950 Auckland in Boxing Flyweight 

Silver: Albert Perera at 1950 Auckland in Boxing Bantamweight 

Silver: Dodangoda Chandrasiri and Lakshman Rajasinghe at 1994 Victoria in Shooting Men's Small Bore Rifle, Prone – Pairs 

Silver: Malee Wickremasinghe at 1994 Victoria in Shooting Women's Air Rifle 

Silver: Sriyani Kulawansha at 1998 Kuala Lumpur in Athletics Women's 100m hurdles 

Silver: Chinthana Vidanage at 2010 Delhi in Weightlifting Men's 69kg 

Silver: Sudesh Peiris at 2014 Glasgow in Weightlifting Men's 62kg 

Bronze: Alex Obeysekere at 1950 Auckland in Boxing Welterweight 

Bronze: Sugath Thilakaratne at 1998 Kuala Lumpur in Athletics Men's 400m 

Bronze: Sudesh Peiris at 2010 Delhi in Weight Lifting Men’s 62 kg