15 October 2018 05:36 pm Views - 2316
By Susil Premalal reporting from Polonnaruwa
Manjula Kumara Wijesekera and Hasini Praboda were named Best Athletes in the Men’s and Women’s Championship respectively at the 44th National Sports Festival Athletics Meet which concluded at the National Stadium in Polonnaruwa yesterday (14).
The veteran athlete from Southern Province (SP) had the satisfaction of winning the Gold Medal in the Men’s High Jump event for the 10th time and went on to retain the title for the ninth successive year.
His performance was even more significant considering the fact that he was able to win the Best Athlete Award at the National Sports Festival for the sixth year.
Hasini representing North Western Province (NWP) won the Best Athlete Award following her excellent performance in the Women’s Triple Jump (13.26m).
Meanwhile, Charith Kapukotuwa of North Western Province (NWP) was stripped of his Men’s Shot Put Gold Medal in a controversial manner.
The US based athlete was found guilty and not eligible to represent his Province after a protest lodged by the authorities from the Southern Province.
However, Kapukotuwa was able to retain the Gold Medal in the Men’s Hammer Throw and the Discus Throw events as the protest was lodged after the stipulated time frame.
SP dominated the track and field events as they clinched the Men’s and the Women’s title while pushing the favourites Western Province (WP) into second place.
The SP Men’s Team collected a total of six Gold Medals, three Silver Medals and four Bronze Medals while the Women’s Team won seven Gold Medals, eight Bronze Medals and four Silver Medals.
However, the Overall Championship and the President’s Trophy went to WP once again with a tally of 101 Gold Medals, 86 Silver Medals and 76 Bronze Medals.
Central Province (CP) emerged runners-up with 46 Gold Medals, 41 Silver Medals and 53 Bronze Medals while SP were placed third with 31 Gold Medals, 34 Silver Medals and 44 Bronze Medals.
Results
10,000m Women: 1. Lanka Ariyadasa (SGP) 36:55:41s. 2. Shamali Anusha (Uva) 37:18:42s. 3. H. M. N. M. Nandasena (EP) 37:41:97s.
5,000m Men: 1. R. M. A. V. Hiranga (Uva) 17:09:57s. 2. K. Jayanthan (NP) 17:12:18s.
3. L. M. N. Sampath (NCP) 17:16:73s.
Hammer Throw Women: 1. P. K. A. A. Maduwanthi (Uva) 46.82m. 2. Aruni Lakshika (WP) 43.27m. 3. A. W. A. S. M Amarasinghe (SP) 41.24m.
Championships
Badminton:
Men’s – Southern Province
Women’s - Western province
Basketball:
Men’s - Western Province
Women’s - Western Province
Beach Volleyball:
Men’s - North Western Province
Women’s - Eastern Province
Beach Kabaddi:
Men’s - Uva Province
Women’s - North Central Province
Bodybuilding:
Men’s - Central Province
Boxing:
Men’s – Western Province
Women’s - Western Province
Carrom:
Men’s - Western Province
Women’s - Western Province
Chess:
Men’s - Central Province
Women’s - Central Province
Softball Cricket:
Men’s - Western Province
Women’s - Sabaragamuwa Province
Elle:
Men’s - North Western Province
Women’s - Western Province
Football:
Men’s - Western Province
Women’s - North Western Province
Gymnastics:
Men’s - Western Province
Women’s - Western Province
Handball:
Men’s - Western Province
Women’s - Western Province
Hockey:
Men’s - Central Province
Women’s - Central Province
Judo:
Men’s - Central Province
Women’s - Central Province
Kabadi:
Men’s – Sabaragamuwa Province
Women’s - Sabaragamuwa Province
Karate Do:
Men’s - North Central and Uva Province
Women’s - North Western and Western Province
Netball - Western Province
Rugby:
Men’s - Central Province
Women’s - Sabaragamuwa Province
Swimming:
Men’s - Western Province
Women’s - Western Province
Table Tennis:
Men’s - Central Province
Women’s - Southern Province
Taekwondo:
Men’s - Sabaragamuwa Province
Women’s - Sabaragamuwa Province
Volleyball:
Men’s - Western Province
Women’s - North Western Province
Weightlifting:
Men’s - North Central Province
Women’s – North Central Province
Wrestling:
Men’s - Western Province
Women’s - Western Province
Wushu (Sanda):
Men’s - Southern Province
Women’s - Sabaragamuwa Province
Wushu (Tawulu):
Men’s - Uva Province
Women’s - Western Province
Tug of War:
Men’s - Uva Province
Women’s - Western Province
Athletics:
Men’s – Southern Province
Women’s – Southern Province