Sri Lankan athletes to vie at 13 major events in 2023

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) has decided to participate in 13 international junior, youth and senior track and field events in 2023.

A total of 102 athletes have been already selected in preparation for these events and they will be included into the elite, junior and senior categories.
These athletes were selected after considering their performances at international level in 2022 and following some local events held last year. 

Sri Lanka will be hoping to win medals at some of the biggest events this year including the Asian Games, Asian Athletic Championships, Commonwealth Youth Games and the IAAF World Athletic Championships, SLA Senior official told the Daily Mirror yesterday.

Sri Lanka will also participate in the 10th Asian Indoor Athletic Championship (February 10-12) in Kazakhstan, Asian 20km Race Walking Championship (March 19) in Japan, 5th Asian Under-18 Athletic Championships (April 27-30) in Uzbekistan, 20th Asian Under-20 Athletic Championships (June 4-7) in South Korea, Asian Throwing Championships (September) in South Korea, Asian Indoor Martial Art Games (November 17-26) in Thailand, Asian Half Marathon Championship and 18th Asian Marathon Championship (November) in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, SLA will conduct the performance test, and youth and junior selection trial on February 21-22, and the selection trial for the Asian Games and Asian Athletic Championships on March 20-22.

The final selection trial for Asian Junior Championships and Commonwealth Youth Games will be from May 7-10 and the final selection trial for the Asian Games and Asian Athletic Championships is to take place on May 23-25 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama.

SLA is also planning to send a few outstanding athletes for overseas training under the Sports Ministry sponsorship and to get down a few internationally reputed athletic coaches to train the local coaches and national athletes.