Archives

by Dinesh Weerawansa

Asian Games double gold medallist Damayanthi Darsha has been ruled out of her individual events at next week's Asian Athletic Championship in Colombo.

She has aggravated a hamstring injury during the current Commonwealth Games in Manchester and as a result, she will not be competing in women's 200m and 400m events at the 14th Asian Athletic championships, which starts at Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo next Thursday (8).

Darsha has been one of Sri Lanka's brightest medal prospect at the 43-nation meet and her absence in women's 200m and 400m will be a big loss for the 105-member Sri Lanka team for the five-day meet. Darsha won gold medals in both women's 200m and 400m at the last Asian Games in Bangkok in 1998. Since then, she has been competing in both the events upto recent Manchester Games.

In an exclusive interview with the 'Daily News' yesterday, Darsha said her hamstring injury started during the recent Asian Grand Prix series in Hyderabad. "Since then, I have not been able to perform to the best of my ability. It has been giving trouble during the Commonwealth Games. As a result, I was not able to do my normal speeding," Darsha said.

But the Lankan sprint queen said she will offer her services in the two relays - women's 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m if the country needs her. However, Darsha said it is better to keep way from the two individual events at the Asian Championship without risking her injured hamstring too much. "I wont be able to compete in 200m and 400m events but I will run in the relays," a determined Darsha said on her arrival from England yesterday.

Darsha's exit will be a big relief for her Asian rivals as she holds the Asian Championship records in both the events - 22.84 seconds in 200m and 51.05 seconds in 400m, in winning gold medals at the last Asian Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia two years ago. Though compatriot Susanthika Jayasinghe would well take over the local challenge in women's 200m, Darsha's absence at Asian Championship will be badly felt in women's 400m.

A determined Darsha said she looks forward to take a short break in the two events and prepare for the future. "I want to overcome the injury problem quickly. That is why I want to keep away from the Asian Championship. But I hope to make a comeback soon. I want to recover and be ready for the Asian Games (in Busan South Korea in September/ October)," Darsha said. She is eager to overcome all odds and defend the gold medals she won in Thailand four years ago after Jayasinghe pulled off due to an injury.

Jani Chathurangani (200m) and Swarnamali Edirisinghe (400m) are strongly tipped to be included for the two individual events in Darsha's absence. Accordingly, the three competitors from Sri Lanka for each of the events are: Susanthika Jayasinghe, Anoma Sooriyarachchi, Jani Chathurangani for women's 200m individual events and P. M. D. P. Wickremasinghe, K. L. L.

Gunawardena and Swarnamali Edirisinghe for 400m. Chathurangani won women's 200m gold medal at last week's National Championship in the absence of Jayasinghe, c and Sooriyarachchi, who were in Manchester. Darsha is set to remain in the Sri Lanka team for the Asian Championship and compete in the two relays.

Ten members of the Sri Lanka athletic team to Manchester, including Darsha, returned to Colombo yesterday and the rest are due home this morning.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager