SLLI emerge champions at Army Sports Festival of Disabled

Sanjaya ARIYARATNE

ATHLETICS: Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) with a total of 468 points emerged overall champions at the Army Sports Festival of the Disabled 2007 which concluded at the Sri Lanka Army Headquarters ground, Colombo, yesterday.

Gajaba Regiment with 273 points ended up as the runner-up while Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment registered 184 points to secure the third place.

Sgt. K.S. Weerasinghe of Sri Lanka Light Infantry was adjudged the best athlete in Class 1 wheel-chair event with his team mate Cpl. S.B. Madurawe finished as the best athlete in Class II wheel-chair event.

Sgt. G.A.S. Amarasinghe (SLLI) too won the best athlete in Class III above knee amputee. In Class 1V below knee amputee track and field event Cpl. S.M. Rohana Sriram (Gajaba Regiment) and Pte. A.M.U. Ratnayake (Vijaya Infantry Regiment) won the equal championships.

In Class V both arm amputee Pte. K.D.A. Herath (Gamunu Watch) was the best athlete.

The other results/Best athletes: Class V1 Arm Amputee - Rfm. N.M.T.V. Nawaratne (Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment) and Sgt. S.A. Shantha Kumara (Commando Regiment).

Class VII totally blind - Cpl. P.U. Udumulla (SLLI)

Class VIII partially blind - Cpl. K.B.R. Jayaratne (CR)

Class IX one eye blind - L/Cpl. E.M.J.P. Ekanayake

Class X deaf - Pte. M.M.M. Sanjeewa (VIR).

In the wheel-chair Marathon event Cpl. W.M. Jayatilake Banda of Special Forces clinched the championship title while Pte. W.A.S.D. Wanasinghe won the Cycling event.

Sri Lanka Light Infantry also won their titles in Table Tennis, Cricket, Power Lifting, Archery, Swimming, Air Rifle and Basket Ball which also conducted simultaneously to the above event.

The winning team was awarded the challenge trophy for the current year by Gotabaya Rajapaksa Secretary Ministry of Defence, Public, Security, Law and order who graced the occasion as the chief guest with Lt. Gen. G.S.C. Fonseka Commander of the Army was the guest of honour. Sgt. S.A. Shanthi Kumara of Commando Regiment named as the Athlete of the Year.