|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 6 August 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Sports | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
37-member squad for Asian Athletic C'ships by Dinesh Weerawansa Star sprinter Rohan Pradeep Kumara Fernando has won back his place in men's 400m as Sri Lanka yesterday named a strong 37-member team for the forthcoming Asian Athletic Championships in the Philippines next month. Sailor Fernando, who missed out a place in his pet event for this month's World Championships in Paris after skipping the 2003 Sri Lanka National Championship, has been reinstated in his men's 400m individual event, along with compatriot Sugath Tillakaratne. Fernando was to run in both men's 400m and 4 x 400m relay at the World Championships in France but would now compete only in the replay after he was penalised for running at an open international meet in Iran at the expense of the local Nationals. However, the national selectors have once again brought in former Asian Championship double gold medallist Fernando to do both the events at the Manila meet next month. Tillakaratne too would compete in both the events, as Fernando. There were no big surprises in the 37-member Sri Lanka team for the Asian Championships, which comprise 24 men and 13 women. Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe, who leads the seven-member Sri Lanka team for the World Championships at Saint Dennis, France, is likely to retain the captaincy for the Asian Championship as well. All athletes who will run for Sri Lanka in Paris have retained their places for the Asian Championship. Jayasinghe is set to complete a yet another golden double in Manila. Asian Championship will mark the end of international careers of two of Sri Lanka's celebrated national athletes - Commonwealth Games silver medallist Sriyani Kulawansa and SAF Games gold medallist Chinthaka de Zoysa. Kulawansa will take part in women's 100m hurdles while de Zoysa would run for men's 4 x 100m relay team before hanging their spikes. Both of them have represented Sri Lanka national team for over a decade with distinction and Sri Lanka has not yet found equal replacements yet to fill their void. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
