The 6th Asian Youth Athletic Championship officially kicked off yesterday (April 15) in Saudi Arabia, bringing together some of the most promising young athletes from across the continent.
As the Relay Championship 2025 wrapped up just a few days prior, displaying the skill of our young athletes, it is evident that this continues not only on a national scale, but on an international scale too. As such, Sri Lanka made an impressive start to the tournament, securing its first medal on the very first day of competition.
It was Janith Lakshan who brought glory to the nation by winning a silver medal in the boys’ triple jump event, recording an impressive distance of 15.10 meters. His teammate, Hansana Jayasinghe, who also competed in the same event, finished in seventh place among the top 8.
In addition to the triple jump, several other Sri Lankan athletes also competed in various events on the opening day. Among them were the preliminary rounds of the boys’ 400 meters. It was Nethmal Costa, competing in Heat 2, finished in third place, while Iresh Maduwantha, who ran in Heat 4, secured second place. Both athletes successfully qualified for the semifinal round of the event. Later in the evening, the semifinals took place, where Iresh Maduwantha clocked a time of 49.50 seconds, earning him a spot in the final round.
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Meanwhile, the preliminary heats of the boys’ 100 meters also took place. Pasindu Sandaruwan, competing in the first heat, placed fifth, while Imaesh Silva, who ran in the second heat, clocked a time of 10.79 seconds and finished fourth. Both athletes qualified for the semifinal round, which marks a noteworthy achievement in such a competitive event in the world of track and field.
Further, the girls’ 100 meters preliminary rounds were also held yesterday. In the second heat, Dhananjana Sewminiimpressed by finishing first with a time of 11.91 seconds, securing her place in the semifinal round.
The final of the girls’ 1500 meters was also scheduled for the opening day. However, Sri Lanka’s two scheduled participants, Niduki Prarthana and Ayesha Sewwandi, were unable to compete due to unforeseen circumstances.
Looking ahead, several Sri Lankan athletes are set to compete in various events today (April 16), and fans can expect more action and excitement. Stay tuned to ThePapare, Sri Lanka’s number one sports platform, for real-time updates and coverage of our young athletes in action.
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