National Sports Festival: New achievement by Chandrani

K.G.S. Chandrani of North East Province registered new achievement timing in women's marathon of the 2005 National Sports Festival worked off in Dambulla yesterday.

Chandrani clocked a record timing of two hours, 56 minutes and 49 seconds to emerge the winner in style.

The second place went to M.A. Chandrawathi of North Central Province (2:59.25), ahead of K.K. Manjala Kumarasinghe of Western Province (3:01.09). J.A. Ajith Bandara of North Western Province won the men's marathon, returning a timing of two hours, 18 minutes and 26 seconds. W.A. Sujeewa Chandrapala (2:28.09) and R.A.Y.G.N. Asela Bandara (2:29.36), both from Central Province, finished second and third respectively.

N. Nayanananda and Geetha Nandani gave two more gold medals for the Western Province, winning men's and women's 20km walk respectively. Nayananda clocked one hour, 42 minutes and 31 seconds to win men's walk, ahead of R.Ariyaratne of Sabaragamuwa Province (1:45.42) and D.G. Somasuriya of Central Province (1:46.45) who finished second and third respectively.

Nandani's timing in winning women's 20km walk was one hour and 47 minutes. She emerged the clear winner as second-placed K.R.D. Dilrukshi (2:03.17) of North Western and G.K.P. Nirosha (2:08.12) of Southern finished way behind.

But the cycling events of the National Sports Festival, worked off from Dambulla via Matale and back to the Economic Centre, had close finish.

Though Upul Sanjeewa of Western emerged champion in a photo finish, the first three had the identical timing of four hours, eight minutes and 30 seconds to cover the 150km route.

Suchitra Dinesh of North Western and W.M.S. Nilanga of Western finished second and third respectively.

There was a keen tussle for supremacy in the women's 50km cycle race too as North Central Province made a clean sweep. U.D.S. Weerasinghe came first, followed by G.A.C. Malkanthi and M.M. Rohini. All three clocked 1:43.52.

D.W.