The whole nation is elated as Nadeesha Dilhani Lekamge quenched the 17- year-old Asian Games athletic medal thirst today at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium. This highlight occurred when Lekamge successfully grabbed the Silver Medal in Women’s Javelin Throw with a mega performance of 61.57 – a new Personal Best.
Meanwhile, the Athletics contingent, Gayanthika Aberathna and Tharushi Dissanayaka competed in Round 1 – Heat 2 and 3 respectively of Women’s 800m. Aberathna came in 3rd in her heat clocking 2mts. 07.17secs. while Dissanayaka came in 2nd in her heat clocking 2mts. 05.48secs. Their performances were followed by the Lankan Men’s 4*400m Relay team, comprising of – Dinuka Deshan, Kaushika Keshan, Rajitha Rajakaruna and Pasindu Panambara, competed in Round 1- Heat 2 and placed 2nd clocking 3mts. 06.60secs. All 3 athletes qualified for the Final of their respective events scheduled to be held tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Lankan Mixed Doubles duo – Chanithma Sinaly and Shamil Wakeel, defeated Chinese duo – Li Dongjin and Zhou Zhitao, in Pool B match with a score of 2-0 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Squash Courts.
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At the Xiaoshan Sports Centre Gymnasium it was seen Indika Dissanayake battling in the Weightlifting – Men’s 73kg Group B and how he managed to come in 3rd place of the group and 11th overall with a total of 285.
Viren – first Lankan shuttler to reach last 16 at the Asian Games
Lanka’s new number one seed Badminton player, a prodigy who is on the rise in the World Ranking of 81 or below, twenty-year-old Viren Nettasinghe opened a new page in game’s history when he became the first reach the round of 16 at the 19th Asian Games at the Binjiang Gymnasium here today.
Yesterday he did short work of Gurung Anish of Bhutan at 21-6 and 21-14 and today did the same with Mongolia’s Enkihbat Sumiyasuren 21-8 and 21-16 on the same court.
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With this achievement now Viren will meet one of the top players in the Asian circuit Chou Tien Chen of Chinese Taipei tomorrow – time yet to be announced.
With unreadable eyes, but with a wry smile Viren explained “Of course I am with my passage so far at the Asian Games. However, if I can beat Chen in my meeting tomorrow then I will call myself extremely happy. This is only the beginning, there is a long and winding road ahead of me”.
Article by National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka
