Sri Lanka to field different athletes at Commonwealth and Asian Games

By Susil Premalal

The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) is making preparations for the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games which is less than a year away.

The XXII Commonwealth Games is scheduled to be held from July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, England while the 19th Asian Games will be held from September 10 to 25 in Hangzhou, China.

The NOCSL hopes to select two different sets of participants for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

National Sports bodies will be instructed not to select the same athlete for both the Games, NOCSL President Suresh Subramanium told the ‘Daily Mirror.'

“The Asian Games will begin just 28 days after the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games. There we won’t gain maximum results if the same individuals or teams take part in both events. If they pick up injuries at the Commonwealth Games it is difficult to recover in time for the Asian Games.

Furthermore, if they have to follow quarantine protocols next year, the athletes will face several issues. Therefore, after the Tokyo Olympic, we will inform all national sports associations to nominate different athletes for the Commonwealth and Asian Games,” Subramanium said.

Meanwhile, the NOCSL President said there is still uncertainty over the Tokyo Olympics taking place.

The IOC (International Olympic Committee) and the Japanese government are still holding discussions whether to postpone the Games while there is a dispute as to who will bear the loss since the Games was not insured, Subramaniam said.

Meanwhile, Mathilda Karlsson has qualified to represent Sri Lanka in equestrian at the Olympics while gymnast Milka Gehani is on the verge of qualification.

Subramaniam added that a few athletes are on the brink of qualification while sports like badminton, judo, weightlifting, archery and swimming are expecting wild cards to participate. The final date to achieve qualification for the Olympics is June 29.