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Lanka falter at 4x400 m relay
Namal Pathirage reporting from Melbourne,Australia
The Sri Lanka quartet annexed the sixth spot in the men’s 4X400 metres at the 18th Commonwealth Games which drew to a close here yesterday. Sri Lanka was able to line up in the final as they had returned a time of 3 minutes 06.42.

The day before in the second heat of the first round, Sri Lanka secured sixth place with a time of 3 minutes o6.96. Here, according to the times returned by Sri Lanka and Jamaica. Sri Lanka was able to run in the final after securing third place, which was a commendable feat.

Australia secured the gold with a time of 3:00.93, South Africa won the silver returning a time of 3:01.84 and Jamaica lined up for the bronze with a time of 3:01.94. England was fourth with a time of 3:02.01. Nigeria were fifth (Time: 3:02.16) and Sri Lanka sixth (Time: 3:06.42).

This is the first time that a Sri Lanka team had qualified to run in the final of the 4X400 metres relay event at the Commonwealth Games. At the 17th Manchester Commonwealth Games (2002) because of poor baton changes Sri Lanka were eliminated from the first round. Sri Lanka’s quartet yesterday comprised of Rohan Pradeep Kumara, Rohan Pushpakumara, Shivantha Weerasuriya and Prasanna Amarasekera and occupied the eighth lane.

Coach Sunil Gunewardena commenting on the performance said that the experience gained at the Commonwealth Games is bound to be of great importance at the 10th South Asian Games to be held in Colombo.
This time Sri Lankan athletes were unable to win a single medal nevertheless Damayanthi Darsha (women’s 200 metres) and Shivantha Weerasuriya (men’s 200 metres) were able to win their first round heats. Javelin thrower Mahesh Silva was able to be gain the 12th place in the final standings.

Now Maxwell jumps on journalists
Maxwell de Silva of tennis fame, who led the Sri Lanka contingent to the 18th Commonwealth Games yesterday, asked journalists whether they had come to report on the events at the Games or to write about officials!

This happened when journalists asked Maxwell what arrangements have been made to greet weightlifter Chinthana Vidanage when he arrives in Sri Lanka. When Chinthana Vidanage made the gold winning lift, none of the officials of the Sri Lanka squad was there to witness the feat, except his two coaches.

Meanwhile Sri Lankans residing in Melbourne have made arrangements to felicitate this youngster from Polonnaruwa who has brought such glory to his motherland. It is learnt that they have even managed to collect Rs. 300,000, which will be presented to him at the function.

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