101st Athletic Nationals begins with 10,000m women’s final tomorrow

By Susil Premalal
Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) has made arrangements to start the 10,000m women’s final of the 101st Athletic Nationals (Senior) Championship 2023 tomorrow (28) at 7.30 a.m. at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.   
The number of athletes who have entered for the 10,000m women’s event is 12.   
This championship will be held till July 30 with the participation of athletes from India and Maldives.   
According to the SLA 2023 Competition Calendar, this is the last tournament organized this year.   

SLA says that 756 athletes, including Elite, National and Youth poolists, will compete in Athletics Nationals this year. They include 537 men and 219 women.   
Participation of the 16 athletes selected for the Hangzhou Asian Games is also mandatory.   
This is the last chance to qualify for the IAAF World Athletic Championship 2023 and accordingly the Athletic Federation of India authorities have sent a team of 29 athletes including the 4x400m men’s relay team to participate in the Sri Lanka Athletic Nationals this year.   

Yupun Abeykoon (100m) and the 4x400m Men’s Relay team have already qualified to represent Sri Lanka at the World Athletic Championship 2023.   
This year the World Athletic Championships is scheduled to be held in Budapest, Hungary from August 19-27.