A team of 13 athletes will take wing to Hong Kong today to participate in the 3rd Asian Youth Athletics Championship which will be held from the 15th to 17th March 2019 in Hongkong where athletes under 18 years of age from the Asian region will compete against each other.
The Sri Lankan team was selected after a one-day trial held on the 19th of January. The Athletics Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) was forced to bring the trial dates forward as the organizers decided to bring the closing dates of the entries forward. Despite the trials being held ahead of schedule, the young athletes performed beyond expectations of many which warranted the AASL to pick a touring squad of 13 athletes although the initial quota handed was only for 7 athletes. Apart from the individual events, Sri Lanka will be competing in both the Boys’ and Girls’ Medley Relay where the athletes will have to complete 400m,300m,200m and 100m respectively.
Shanika Lakshani, the young middle distancer from Holy Cross College who will compete in the Women’s 800m has been handed the responsibility of leading the Sri Lankan contingent which will consist of 7 male and 6 female athletes. Lakshani impressed at the trials, clocking a time of 2:12.23 which is better than the existing Youth Asian record in the event and will be looking to for a podium finish in the event.
Read More – Peterite Rumesh Tharanga books a slot for Asian Youth
Peterite athlete Rumesh Tharanga, who was the only junior athlete to have achieved the difficult AASL qualification standard at the trials, will be Sri Lanka’s prime medal prospect at the meet. Tharanga went past the qualification mark in the Discus throw with a throw of 51.90m whereas the qualification mark was at 51.00m. Despite not being able to reach the tough qualification mark in the Javelin at the trials, he will be competing in both events at the competition.
Sprinters Sadeepa Henderson and Milinda Perera will be the busiest athletes from Sri Lanka at the competition as they are set to compete in the sprint double (100m & 200m) and will also be a part of the Girls’ and Boys’ Medley relay teams as well. Dilmi Dahanayaka is the other sprinter in the squad. She will be competing in the 100m and is a part of the Medley relay team.
Peterite Hirusha Hashen has impressed in recent times as a promising sprinter but is also a record-breaking long jumper. Hashen will be competing in the Boys’ Long Jump event, securing the top spot at the trial with a leap of 7.19m. He will also be a member of the Medley relay team.
Isuru Abeywardane and Navishka Sandesh competed valiantly against each other in the 400m at the trials. During the heats of the event, Isuru clocked an impressive time of 48.77sec while Navishka had the last laugh as he managed to win the final of the event getting the better of Isuru. Both will be looking to make the finals of the event and will also be important members of the Medley relay team.
Kavindi Sanjana Edirisinghe has proved to be an athlete to look out for due to her impressive performances in the 400m though the age groups. Having clocked a time of 56.88secs at the trials, she will be the only Sri Lankan female athlete competing in the 400m and will also be a part of the Women’s medley relay team.
Read More – Top performers at the Junior Trials
Amesha Hettiarachchi of Viharamahadevi BV, Kandy impressed with her time of 2:45.00 in the 400m hurdles and was only .45secs behind the qualifications mark that was set by the AASL. Amesha will be hoping to replicate the heroics of Yamini Dulanjali who won Gold in the same event at the inaugural Youth Asian Championship.
PIPN Pallegama of South Asian Junior fame and Roshen Dulmin will represent Sri Lanka in the Women’s & men’s High jump competition respectively. Pallegama managed to clear a height of 1.71m while Dulmin cleared 2.00m to gain qualification to the Championship.
Lahiru Garusinghe is the only long distancer in the team and will be competing in the 2000m steeple chase. Hailing from Senanayake Central College, Madampe, Lahiru will be hoping to raise the lion flag at the Asian Youth Championship and to continue the good results for the Island nation in the steeple chase.
Sri Lanka has won six medals at the two concluded editions of the Asian Youth Athletic Championship. At the Inaugural edition in 2015 which was held in Doha, Sri Lanka won a gold through Yamini Dulanjali in the 400m hurdles while Darshana Kumara (400m hurdles), Dammika Ranatunga (High Jump) & Chamal Kumarasiri (Triple jump) all Bronze. In the second edition held in 2017 in Thailand, Harsha Dissanyake won Silver in the Men’s 800m while Navodya Sankalpa secured a Bronze medal in the 400m hurdles. With the junior athletes of the country impressing in the recent times, Sri Lanka will be looking for a record medal tally at the 3rd Asian Athletic Championship 2019.
Team Sri Lanka for 3rd Asian Youth Athletic Championship
Boys
Rumesh Tharanga (Discus throw/ Javelin throw), Lahiru Garusinghe (2000m Steeple chase), Roshen Dulmin (High Jump), Milinda Perera (100m/200m), Hirusha Hashen (Long Jump), Isuru Abeywardane (400m), Navishka Sandeesh (400m)
Medley relay – Milinda Perera, Hirusha Hashen, Isuru Abayawardana, Navishka Sandeesh
Girls
Shanika Lakshani (800m), PPIN Pallegama (High Jump), Sadeepa Henderson (100m/200m), Amesha Hettiarachchi(400m Hurdles), Kavindi Sanjana (400m), Dilmi Dahanayake (100m)
Medley relay – Sadeepa Henderson, Amesha Hettiarachchi, Kavindi Sanjana, Dilmi Dahanayake
