Sri Lankan athletics team at the airport

By Susil Premalal

Nine athletes of the Sri Lankan contingent left for the 19th Asian Games Athletics in Nanjing, China, yesterday (3) to participate in a three-week pre-training session before the tournament. This is the first team to leave Sri Lanka for the Hangzhou Asian Games.

Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) and the National Selection Committee have selected 16 athletes (8 men and 8 women) for the event, scheduled to be held from September 29 to October 8.
As a result of a request made by the SLA through the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL), the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee has given the opportunity to the Sri Lankan athletics team.

The team will be under the guidance of Kalinga Kumarage’s coach, Vimukthi Soysa, and Nadeesha Ramanayake’s coach, WGM Tushara, during this period, as confirmed by team manager Lal Chandrakumara.

Other athletes and coaches, including South Asia’s fastest sprinter Yupun Abeykoon and high jumper Ushan Tiwanka, who are currently abroad, are scheduled to join the team in Hangzhou on September 26.

The Sri Lankan team that departed for pre-training includes Kumarage, Ramanayake, Aruna Dharshana, Pabasara Niku, Rajitha Rajakaruna, Dinuka Deshan, Pasindu Kodikara, Sauri Mendis, and M.J.H. Uthtara.