Ramesh and Nimesha win 34th NYG marathon titles

(From L-R)-Half marathon winners Arumugam Anusha (third), Nimesha Dharshani (winner) and Kumudu Kumari (second)

(From L-R)-Men’s marathon winners Tharusha Akalanka (third), Pawendra Rumesh (winner) and Danushka Prabath (second)

By Susil Premalal

Pawendra Ramesh of Colombo and Nimesha Dharshani of Moneragala won the mens and womens marathon championship at the 34th National Youth Games (NYG) held in Maharagama.
Conducted by the National Youth Service Council (NYSC) as the first event of the 2023 NYG, the men’s full marathon and the women’s half marathon were held in the vicinity of Maharagama city.

The winner of the men’s full marathon Pawendra returned a winning time of 2:50.07secs and the women’s half marathon winner Nimesh clocked a time of 1:25.55sec.
Badulla’s Danushka Prabath Rathnayaka (2:54:57) was second in the men’s event followed by Colombo’s Tharusha Akalanka (3:02:17).
Kandy’s Kumudu Kumari (1:28:03) was second in the women’s half marathon while Nuwara Eliya’s Arumugam Anusha (1:29:46) finished in third place.