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Susanthika pulls out of 200m

Chris Dhambarage reporting from Matara

Olympic Games medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe pulled out of the women's 200 metres event on the opening day of the track and field events at the 28th National Sports Festival continued at the Uyanwatte Stadium in Matara yesterday.

Jayasinghe who won two gold medals at the recent Asian Track and Field meet in Colombo decided to withdraw from her event at the last moment fearing injuries. Jayasinghe has two important assignments ahead of her with the World Cup championship in Spain and the Asian Games in South Korea coming up later this month.

However Jayasinghe has agreed to run in an exhibition race with those who qualify to compete in the 100 metres final on Saturday.

Manjula Kumara of Southern Province won the gold medal in the men's high jump with a performance of 2.01 metres followed by Nalin Priyantha of Western Province and Suraj Sanran of North Western Province. N. C. D. Priyadarshani of Western Province won the gold medal in the women's long jump with an effort of 5.66 metres followed by Chaturika Udayangani of Central Province and Ishali Chandrasekera of Sabaragamuwa Province.

Meanwhile in the team events the Western Province soccer team edged out North Western Province by three goals to one while Southern Province had the better of North Central Province 1 nil.

North Western Province and Sabaragamuwa Province recorded two big victories on the opening day of the netball events worked off at the Sanath Jayasuriya Stadium. North Western Province routed North Central Province 55 goals to 24 and Sabaragamuwa Province outplayed North East Province by 55 goals to 31.