Sri Lankan medal tally increased to 6 medals to day with the 17-year-old steeple chaser, Parami Wasanthi Maristella from Kuliyapitiya Central College winning Sri Lanka’s second gold medal at the ongoing Asian Athletic Championship held in Gifu, Japan.
Parami though still 17 years of age, showcased immense grit and composure to run a commanding race in the Women’s 3000m steeplechase final where she clocked an impressive time of 10:21.54 which is also a new personal best time for her bettering the previous time of 10:37.00 sec from over 15 secs. A remarkable achievement from the youngster was even special as she dominated the race from the word go and held the edge over the rest of the competition. Second-placed Wanhua Tian of China finished the race with clocking 10:28.24 over 6 seconds behind Parami while Japanese Yuka Nosue was placed third clocking 10:38.30.
This is truly an amazing feat by Parami who is a double international having represented Sri Lanka at the Under 18 team Asian 7s Rugby tournament last year. Parami has had a meteoric rise in the steeplechase in the local competitions as she managed to beat the reigning champion who is also her schoolmate Asmika Herath in the 2000m steeplechase at the 2018 junior national championship. It is great that Sri Lanka now possesses two juniors who can make a mark in the international stage.
Dilishi grabs her second medal running personal best
Dilishi Kumarasinghe collected her second medal of the competition as she went on to win Bronze in the Women’s 800m final. Dilishi who was up against strong competition from the Japanese duo Ayaka Kawata and Ayano Shiomi who won the Gold and Silver respectively. Dilishi however, gave it her all to finish the race in the third clocking 2:04.53 which is a new personal best for her, shaving almost 3 seconds from her previous personal best time of 02:07.73sec.
Amasha De Silva and Pasindu Kodikara progressed to the final of the Women’s 200m and the Men’s400m hurdles which will be held tomorrow. Sri Lanka however were left disappointed as Harasha Karunarathne failed to go through to the finals in the Men’s 800m final as a tactical decision he made in the opening few meters of the race costing him the spot in the final. Ridma Nishadi who participated in the Women’s Long Jump final finished 6th with her best jump measured at a disappointing 5.75m. Ridma holds a personal best of 6.08m and was well short of her best in Japan.
Read: Harsha bows out in disappointing fashion
Sri Lanka will feature in 3 individual finals as well as Men’s & Women’s 4X400 finals with 5 medals up on offer
| 10.05am | Pasindu Kodikara | Men’s 400m Hurdles | Final |
| 10.15am | Tharindu Dasun | Men’s High Jump | Final |
| 10.30am | Amasha De Silva | Women’s 200m | Final |
| 12.55pm | Men’s 4X400m | Semi Final | |
| 12.55pm | Women’s 4X400m | Final | |
| 1.10pm | Men’s 4X400m | Final | |
Live Updates – Asian Junior Athletic Championship
Sri Lankan Juniors will be in action in Gifu, Japan…
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