A 13 member Sri Lanka athletic team will take part at the Asian Athletic Championship which will be held from July 12 to -16 in Bangkok.
Sri Lanka Athletics headed by Rt Major General Palitha Fernando is expecting medals from the Asian athletic championship which will give good boost to local athletes before Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from September. 23 to October 8.
Gayanthika Abeyratne the National middle distance champion who is in terrific form these days will take part in her key events 800m and 1500m while the promising athlete from Walala A.Ratnayake Central Tharushi Karunaratne will take part in 800 m and 400x 4 relay and mixed relay events. Both Gayanthika and Tharushi are key medal prospects in this meet while National long jump record holder Sarangi Silva and 24 year old Aruna Dharshana who recorded best time at 400m recently at Japanese meet are also in the team.
Sri Lanka 4x400m relay team is hopeful of a medal while Kalinga Kumarage, Aruna Dharshana, Rajitha Rajakaruna, Pabasara Niku, Pasindu Lakshan are members of relay teams both 4x 400m and mixed relay.
Nadeesha Ramanayake the 400m and mixed relay member, Sayuri Lakshima Mendis, Nishendra Fernando also members of 400m relay team. Meanwhile Randi Himasha Cooray will compete in Triple Jump while Nadeesha Dilhani Lekamge (Javelin throw) will also compete in this meet.
Sri Lankan athletes having very successful training while few of them took part in international meets to get exposure before the Asian Athletic Championship and all athletes are more focused on next Asian Games. However Sri Lankan sprinter Yupun Abeykoon already announced he is not available for this Asian Athletic Championship.
He is nursing an injury after European meet and still recovering but will focus on Asian Games.
Sri Lanka athletic team for Asian Athletic championship:
Gayanthika Abeyratne ( 800m, 1500m), Tharushi Karunaratne (800m, 4x 400m relay, 400 mixed relay), Nadeesha Ramanayake (400m, 4x 400m relay and 400 m mixed relay), Sayuri Lakshima Mendis (4x 400m relay, 400m mixed relay), Nishendra Fernando (4x 400m relay and 400m mixed relay), Sarangi Silva (long jump), Randi Himasha Cooray (Triple jump), Nadeesha Dilhani Lekamge (Javelin throw), Kalinga Kumarage (400m, 4x 400m and mixed relay), Aruna Dharshana (400m, 4x 400m relay and mixed relay), Rajitha Rajakaruna, Pabasara Niku and Pasindu Lakshan (4x 400m relay and mixed relay)
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