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By Susil Premalal reporting from Polonnaruwa

Manjula Kumara Wijesekera and Hasini Praboda were named Best Athletes in the Men’s and Women’s Championship respectively at the 44th National Sports Festival Athletics Meet which concluded at the National Stadium in Polonnaruwa yesterday (14).

The veteran athlete from Southern Province (SP) had the satisfaction of winning the Gold Medal in the Men’s High Jump event for the 10th time and went on to retain the title for the ninth successive year.

His performance was even more significant considering the fact that he was able to win the Best Athlete Award at the National Sports Festival for the sixth year.

Hasini representing North Western Province (NWP) won the Best Athlete Award following her excellent performance in the Women’s Triple Jump (13.26m).

Meanwhile, Charith Kapukotuwa of North Western Province (NWP) was stripped of his Men’s Shot Put Gold Medal in a controversial manner.

The US based athlete was found guilty and not eligible to represent his Province after a protest lodged by the authorities from the Southern Province.

However, Kapukotuwa was able to retain the Gold Medal in the Men’s Hammer Throw and the Discus Throw events as the protest was lodged after the stipulated time frame.

SP dominated the track and field events as they clinched the Men’s and the Women’s title while pushing the favourites Western Province (WP) into second place.

The SP Men’s Team collected a total of six Gold Medals, three Silver Medals and four Bronze Medals while the Women’s Team won seven Gold Medals, eight Bronze Medals and four Silver Medals.

However, the Overall Championship and the President’s Trophy went to WP once again with a tally of 101 Gold Medals, 86 Silver Medals and 76 Bronze Medals.

Central Province (CP) emerged runners-up with 46 Gold Medals, 41 Silver Medals and 53 Bronze Medals while SP were placed third with 31 Gold Medals, 34 Silver Medals and 44 Bronze Medals.

Results

10,000m Women: 1. Lanka Ariyadasa (SGP) 36:55:41s. 2. Shamali Anusha (Uva) 37:18:42s. 3. H. M. N. M. Nandasena (EP) 37:41:97s.

5,000m Men: 1. R. M. A. V. Hiranga (Uva) 17:09:57s. 2. K. Jayanthan (NP) 17:12:18s.

3. L. M. N. Sampath (NCP) 17:16:73s.

Hammer Throw Women: 1. P. K. A. A. Maduwanthi (Uva) 46.82m. 2. Aruni Lakshika (WP) 43.27m. 3. A. W. A. S. M Amarasinghe (SP) 41.24m.

Championships

Badminton:

Men’s – Southern Province

Women’s - Western province

Basketball:

Men’s - Western Province

Women’s - Western Province

Beach Volleyball:

Men’s - North Western Province

Women’s - Eastern Province

Beach Kabaddi:

Men’s - Uva Province

Women’s - North Central Province

Bodybuilding:

Men’s - Central Province

Boxing:

Men’s – Western Province

Women’s - Western Province

Carrom:

Men’s - Western Province

Women’s - Western Province

Chess:

Men’s - Central Province

Women’s - Central Province

Softball Cricket:

Men’s - Western Province

Women’s - Sabaragamuwa Province

Elle:

Men’s - North Western Province

Women’s - Western Province

Football:

Men’s - Western Province

Women’s - North Western Province

Gymnastics:

Men’s - Western Province

Women’s - Western Province

Handball:

Men’s - Western Province

Women’s - Western Province

Hockey:

Men’s - Central Province

Women’s - Central Province

Judo:

Men’s - Central Province

Women’s - Central Province

Kabadi:

Men’s – Sabaragamuwa Province

Women’s - Sabaragamuwa Province

Karate Do:

Men’s - North Central and Uva Province

Women’s - North Western and Western Province

Netball - Western Province

Rugby:

Men’s - Central Province

Women’s - Sabaragamuwa Province

Swimming:

Men’s - Western Province

Women’s - Western Province

Table Tennis:

Men’s - Central Province

Women’s - Southern Province

Taekwondo:

Men’s - Sabaragamuwa Province

Women’s - Sabaragamuwa Province

Volleyball:

Men’s - Western Province

Women’s - North Western Province

Weightlifting:

Men’s - North Central Province

Women’s – North Central Province

Wrestling:

Men’s - Western Province

Women’s - Western Province

Wushu (Sanda):

Men’s - Southern Province

Women’s - Sabaragamuwa Province

Wushu (Tawulu):

Men’s - Uva Province

Women’s - Western Province

Tug of War:

Men’s - Uva Province

Women’s - Western Province

Athletics:

Men’s – Southern Province

Women’s – Southern Province