Cycling: 16 riders to represent Sri Lanka at SAG in India

Eight men’s cyclists and eight women’s cyclists will represent Sri Lanka at the South Asian Games to be held in Assam, India from February 5 to 16.

This has been decided upon by the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation.

Jeevan Jayasinghe of the Sri Lanka Air Force will head the cycling contingent while Sriyalatha Wickremasinghe will be the skipper of the women’s team. 

The Cycling Federation has forwarded these names to the Selection Committee of the National Olympic Committee for ratification.

The two teams have been training dedicatedly in Anuradhapura with Upali Ratnayake as the Coach. 

Upali Ratnayake has been coaching the Sri Lanka cycling team since 2006.

At the last SAG held in Bangladesh in 2010 Sri Lanka won a Gold Medal and a Silver Medal. 

The Gold was annexed by Janaka Hemantha. The Silver was won by Sriyalatha Wickremasinghe.

According to Coach Upali Ratnayake the Sri Lanka team has the capabilities of bagging at least three Gold medals. 

Two from the men’s events and one from the women’s team.

The Sri Lanka team this year has Janaka Hemantha who won a Gold in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka’s number one sprinter JeevanJayasinghe and first class riders in Buddhika Warnakulasuriya, Dane Nugera and Thushan Rajapakse. 

The Gold could be expected from these riders.

Amongst those who could bring credit to Sri Lanka is Sriyalatha Wickremasinghe, who wona Silver at the Bangladesh SAG. 

Cycling to the SAG was introduced in 2006 at the competition held in Colombo, where Sri Lanka won Gold in five events out of seven.

It should be noted that Sri Lanka has not associated with the SAG for the last six years and nothing could be said about the Indian riders.

The Afghanistan team is reputed to be strong and could pull off a few surprises as they have been competing with American teams. 

In Bangladesh the Afghanistan riders always finished in a bunch with the Sri Lankan riders. It is difficult to access their real strength.

“Sri Lanka’s biggest threat in 2006 was from Pakistan. In 2010 Sri Lanka’s main rivals were India. This year Sri Lanka possesses a fine team and has been practicing hard. Not having enough time to train has been the main draw back. We hope to give a strong challenge at the SAG,” said Coach Upali Ratnayake.
Upali Ratnayake is a Level II qualified coach and has been training at the National level for over 15 years. He is a diploma holder in the Union of Cycling International (UCI).

The men’s Team: Jeevan Jayasinghe (SLAF), Buddhika Warnakulasuriya (SLAF), Dane Nugera (SLAF), Janaka Hemantha (SLNavy), Thuushan Rajapaksa (SL Army), Navin Ruchira (SLAF), Gihan Pushpakumara (SL Army), Avishka Medonza (SL German Friendship SC), Dhaeshana Prasad (SL Navy), Avishka Medonza (SL German Friendship SC). 

Eight men’s cyclists and eight women’s cyclists will represent Sri Lanka at the South Asian Games to be held in Assam, India from February 5 to 16.

This has been decided upon by the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation.

Jeevan Jayasinghe of the Sri Lanka Air Force will head the cycling contingent while Sriyalatha Wickremasinghe will be the skipper of the women’s team. 

The Cycling Federation has forwarded these names to the Selection Committee of the National Olympic Committee for ratification.

The two teams have been training dedicatedly in Anuradhapura with Upali Ratnayake as the Coach. 

Upali Ratnayake has been coaching the Sri Lanka cycling team since 2006.

At the last SAG held in Bangladesh in 2010 Sri Lanka won a Gold Medal and a Silver Medal. 

The Gold was annexed by Janaka Hemantha. The Silver was won by Sriyalatha Wickremasinghe.

According to Coach Upali Ratnayake the Sri Lanka team has the capabilities of bagging at least three Gold medals. 

Two from the men’s events and one from the women’s team.

The Sri Lanka team this year has Janaka Hemantha who won a Gold in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka’s number one sprinter JeevanJayasinghe and first class riders in Buddhika Warnakulasuriya, Dane Nugera and Thushan Rajapakse. 

The Gold could be expected from these riders.

Amongst those who could bring credit to Sri Lanka is Sriyalatha Wickremasinghe, who wona Silver at the Bangladesh SAG. 

Cycling to the SAG was introduced in 2006 at the competition held in Colombo, where Sri Lanka won Gold in five events out of seven.

It should be noted that Sri Lanka has not associated with the SAG for the last six years and nothing could be said about the Indian riders.

The Afghanistan team is reputed to be strong and could pull off a few surprises as they have been competing with American teams. 

In Bangladesh the Afghanistan riders always finished in a bunch with the Sri Lankan riders. It is difficult to access their real strength.

“Sri Lanka’s biggest threat in 2006 was from Pakistan. In 2010 Sri Lanka’s main rivals were India. This year Sri Lanka possesses a fine team and has been practicing hard. Not having enough time to train has been the main draw back. We hope to give a strong challenge at the SAG,” said Coach Upali Ratnayake.
Upali Ratnayake is a Level II qualified coach and has been training at the National level for over 15 years. He is a diploma holder in the Union of Cycling International (UCI).

The Men’s Team: Jeevan Jayasinghe (SLAF), Buddhika Warnakulasuriya (SLAF), Dane Nugera (SLAF), Janaka Hemantha (SLNavy), Thuushan Rajapaksa (SL Army), Navin Ruchira (SLAF), Gihan Pushpakumara (SL Army), Avishka Medonza (SL German Friendship SC), Dhaeshana Prasad (SL Navy), Avishka Medonza (SL German Friendship SC). 

The Women’s Team: Niluka Sriyamani (Civil Security Force), Sriyalatha Wickremasinghe (Ranjit Anura Cycling Club), Sudarika Priyadarshani (SLAF), Madushani Ranasinghe (SLAF), Niroshani Perera (SLAF), Lasanthi Gunatilleke (The Friends), Udeshini Niranjani Kumarasinghe (Deepthi Cycling Club) and Kanchani Sulochana (SLAF).

Coach:  Upali Rathnayake

Niluka Sriyamani (Civil Security Force), Sriyalatha Wickremasinghe (Ranjit Anura Cycling Club), Sudarika Priyadarshani (SLAF), Madushani Ranasinghe (SLAF), Niroshani Perera (SLAF), Lasanthi Gunatilleke (The Friends), Udeshini Niranjani Kumarasinghe (Deepthi Cycling Club) and Kanchani Sulochana (SLAF).

Coach:  Upali Rathnayake