Delay in approval of the list of athletes from the Education Ministry left youth athletes in quandary for the first Asian Youth Athletics Championship to be held in Qatar 8 May.
With about two weeks to go for the championship, athletes are yet to be confirmed for the tour and the Sports Ministry approval will only be given after the Education Ministry’s approval. Athletics Association (AASL) had forwarded seven athletes for the approval of the education ministry along with coach and lady chaperon.
Out of seven athletes six had achieved qualifying standards for the IAAF World Youth championship where they have a bigger opportunity to produce medals at an Asian level.
Director of Sports at the Education Ministry said, he had forwarded the list to minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam in reply to a query from Ceylon Today but the approval will only come by Thursday evening.
Nevertheless the quota reserved for Sri Lanka by the organizers is only for three athletes and one official and Sri Lanka has to pay for the rest of the team for their expenses.
Team
Male : Asiri Wijesekara (200m), Dhammika Ranathunga(High Jump) , Chamal Kumarasiri (Triple Jump),Dharshan Rajapaksha(400m hurdles),Ushan Thivanka (High Jump), Uditha Chandrasena (400m hurdles)
Female: Yamani Dulanjali (400m and 400m hurdles)
