Special training for Sri Lanka athletes in India
The Athletics Association of Sri Lanka has decided send athletes for a special training in India in preparation for the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships to be held in Bhubaneaswar, Odisha from July 6 to 9.
India has agreed to a request by the local officials to avail Kalinga Stadium, the venue for the Asian Athletics Championships for the training of Sri Lankan athletes.
Both Sugathadasa Stadium and the Mahinda Rajapakse stadiums are in dilapidated states at present which forced local officials to consider a training venue outside the country.
After two selection trials the Sri Lanka team for the event will be named within the next two or three days.
Sri Lanka expect to send a team of 20-23 athletes for the biannual event. According to athletics selection committee chairman Saman Kumara 19 athletes have already reached the qualifying standards.
At the 2015 Asian Championships held in China, Sri Lanka performance hit rock bottom winning a single bronze medal through Nimali Liyanarachchi in the 800 metres.
Seven athletes qualified at the final trial held at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex, Diyagama. They are: Dilhani Lekamge (women’s javelin), Ajith Premakumara (men’s 400m), Dilip Ruwan (men’s 400m), Rumeshika Ratnayake (women’s 100m), Vinod Suranjaya de Silva (men’s 100m), Dhanuka Liyanapathirana (men’s long jump), Waruna Lakshan Dayaratne (men’s javelin).
At the first trial held in April five athletes qualified. They are: Manjula Kumara Wijesekera (men’s high jump), Nilani Ratnayake (women’s 3000m steeple chase), Gayanthika Abeyratne (women’s 800m), Nimali Liyanarachchi (women’s 800m), Himasha Eshan (men’s 100m).
Other than that the men’s 4X100 and the men’s 4X400 relay teams have also qualified.