Final leg of Asian GP in Pune today

Bernard Perera in Pune, India

ATHLETICS: The third and final leg of the Asian Grand Prix Athletic meet is scheduled to be held today in Pune, India.

Sri Lanka contingent comprising eight athletes who competed in Bangkok and Gwahati, India will battle once again to come up with a better performance.

Lanka's star woman sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe who was beaten thrice consecutively to Uzberkistan's Kubbiehra Guzel will have to do a little bit better if she is to win against Guzel.

Guzel who defeated Susanthika in Bangkok clocking 11.31 secs once again came up with a better performance in the second leg with a time of 11.24 secs. Though Susanthika lost this event she too had a better performance to improve on her timing, improving tremendously to clock 11.25 secs.

In the first leg Lankan sprinter had a bad star and failed to go past her opponent, while she could not have a better time too. Now the time has come for Susanthika to have a better start so that she could get over the biggest hurdle which she faces now, and enter a new arena to boost her morale.

The 4 X 400 m relay quartet who managed to bag two victories is sure to make it three in a row. In both victories they have failed to achieve the required qualifying time to compete at the forthcoming IAAF World championships. At the same time the quartet have failed to achieve the earlier time they recorded by 0.76 secs. This will be their last opportunity to reach the required time 3.3:00 secs if they are to qualify.

Meanwhile Prasanna Amarasekera who was place-second behind China's Wang Liyangu will once again confront the same field and will try his best to clock a better time for the event. Amarasekera and the winner Wang both could maintain their timings what they achieved in Bangkok.

High Jumper Manjula Kumara Wijesekera and long distance runner Chaminda Wijekoon who failed miserably in the first leg managed secure third places in the second leg.

The time has come for Manjula Kumara to reach his best form to regain the record he held before the first leg. His record was shattered by Kazakstan's Zassimovich Sergey dealing 2.30 m.

He too failed to repeat his performance in the next event when he cleared only 2.18 m while Manjula too managed 2.05 which he failed in Bangkok.

This final leg will be of vital importance for Lankan athletes as they are hoping to get better performances with the view of reaching qualifying standards for major international events.