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National Athletic C'ships begin today: 

Tillakaratne will be the cynosure of all eyes

by Dinesh Weerawansa

Men's 400m event will turn out to be a virtually Asian level star attraction at the 81st Sri Lanka National Athletic championships which begins at Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo today.

The three-day meet, conducted by the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) and sponsored by Lanka Cement, will serve as the final trial to pick the Sri Lanka team for next month's IAAF World Championships in France and the Asian Championships in the Philippians on the following month.

The top three men's 400m sprinters in the 2003 Asian Grand Prix Series will be seen in action at the National championship, which makes the event the most interesting event of the meet. In addition, it would also finalise the places in Sri Lanka's men's 4 x 400m relay team for the IAAF World Championships in Paris. It will be a do or die situation for 1998 Asian Games men's 400m gold medallist Sugath Tillakaratne, who could even miss out a place in the Sri Lanka team for next month's IAAF World Championships in the French capital, unless he finishes within the top five in men's 400m final of the nationals.

Susanthika Jayasinghe (women's 100m and 200m), Damayanthi Darsha (women's 400m) and Rohan Pradeep Kumara Fernando (men's 400m) have already qualified to compete in the individual events of the World Championship, which starts in Saint Dennis Stadium, Paris on August 23. However, Tillakaratne's place is the balance and he has to prove this weekend that he has not lost his old touch. Of the four Asian Grand Prix Series meet this year, Tillakaratne won only one while Pradeep Kumar Fernando won the other three.

This weekend could well turn out to be a decisive hurdle in Tillakaratne's career. After W. Wimaladasa's feats in the 70s, Tillakaratne has emerged the best 400m male sprinter that Sri Lanka has produced. But his fate would now depend on how he fares at the Nationals.

But Tillakaratne could still win back his place in the Sri Lanka team to Paris. If he gains IAAF qualifying timing of 45.55 seconds event at the heats today, he could qualify to do his pet individual event at World Championships.

If not, he could still finish within the top five in Sunday's men's 400m final and find a place in the 400m relay team. Top sprinters competing in this event are Tillakaratne, Pradeep Kumar Fernando, Prasanna Amarasekera, Ranga Wimalawansa, S.M.N. Hemantha and W.P.G.M. Pushpakumara. Tillakaratne looked a relaxed man on the eve of his decisive run. "I have been training hard. I don't see any problem in qualifying for the relay team but my target is different," a confident Tillakaratne said. He is still hopeful of finding a place in men's 400m individual event of the World Championship.

AASL Secretary, Prema Pinnawale, when contacted, said the deadline to reach qualifying standards is August 11. "I want to go for that goal, finish my event under 45.55," Tillakaratne said.

Today's events schedule would commence with the men's high jump finals at 4 p.m. and ends with men's 10,000m finals at 8 p.m. under lights. The most interesting event of the meet - men's 400m will have its first round heats at 7.30 p.m. today with the semi-finals at 7.30 p.m. tomorrow and the final at 5.15 p.m. on Sunday.

The most notable absentee is Asian Games triple gold medallist Damayanthi Darsha who has withdrawn due to a leg injury.

But she has put forward a medical certificate and is expected to fit by the World Championships. However, all other top national athletes, including Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe, will be seen in action.

Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Johnston Fernando will be the chief guest at today's colourful opening ceremony while Lanka Cement chairman Anil Koswatte will be the guest of honour. The AASL has finalised all arrangements for a successful meet with Capt. Shemal Fernando SLN as the competition manager.

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