SL athletes target medals at Commonwealth and Asian Games

By SusilPremalal

Sri Lankan athletes are confident of winning at least seven or eight medals collectively at next year’s Commonwealth Games in England and at the Asian Games in China.

The Commonwealth Games will be held from July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham while the Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou from September 10 to 25.    

SLA official recorder Saman Kumara Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka couldhope of winning a couple of medals at the Commonwealth Games.

In the history of Commonwealth Games, Sri Lankan athletes have won only one Gold Medal, one Silver Medal and one Bronze Medal through Duncan White (1950 – Auckland), SriyaniKulawansa (1998 – Kuala Lumpur) and SugathThilakaratna (1998 – Kuala Lumpur) respectively.

Sri Lanka have not won a medal in athletics at the Commonwealth Games for the past 23 years and once again the odds will be heavily against them.

As a result, SLA are planning to reduce the number of athletes who would compete at the Commonwealth Games.
In contrast, Sri Lanka will field a contingent of 20 athletes for the Asian Games as they have the potential of winning five to six medals.

Sri Lanka will be aiming to win medals at the Men’s 4X100m relay, Men’s 4X400m relay, 4X400m mixed relay, Men’s 100m and Women’s 800m events.

Sri Lanka last won a medal at the Asian Games in athletics way back in 2006 in Doha, Qatar where Susanthika Jayasinghe won a Silver Medal in the 100m and a Bronze Medal in the 200m.

In addition, the Sri Lanka Men’s 4X400m relay quartet consisting of Rohan Pradeep Kumara, Rohitha Pushpakumara, Prasanna Amarasekera and Asoka Jayasundera won the Bronze Medal at the same meet.

• The Commonwealth Games will be held from July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham while the Asian Games will be held in Hangzhou from September 10 to 25