Great opportunity for young athletes

Junior Athletic Championships from May 02:

Chinthana Wasala

The National Junior Athletics Championship conducted by the Athletic Association of Sri Lanka will be held from May 02 to 04 at the Sugatadasa Stadium. Diesel and Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO) has come forward to power this year's meet which will see the participation of over 2600 athletes.

Twelve champion athletes who come up with superlative performance in three age categories (Under 16, 18 and 20) during this meet will be awarded with scholarships offered by DIMO, marking their extended support to the athletics.

The scholarships will be valid for a period of 12 months and DIMO will provide with necessary requirements for the selected athletes under the guidance of AASL while the latter will make an analyze on their progress after two months.

Such support will be highly beneficial for the young athletes to improve on their performance for a better future in athletics.

'We consider this as a social responsibility. We are not trying to use this event as an advertising campaign' stated Ranjith Pandithage, Chairman DIMO. 'This is a great moment for the Sri Lanka athletics' said Gen. Palitha Fernando, Chaiman Athletics Association Sri Lanka.

Presently there are very strong companies and organizations like DIMO who have extended their blessings towards us. We consider this as a very good opportunity for the development of athletics and I believe that we have a bright future ahead, added the AASL Chairman.

There will be events for age groups under-16, 18, 20 and 23 for both boys and girls. Race walking for age groups under-20 and 23 has been added for this year's championship in order to improve and popularize the event.

This will also be the selection trials prior to the Asian Junior Athletics Championships to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia which will get under way from June 12.

The selected National Junior Squad will also take part in the World Junior and Commonwealth Junior Athletics Championships in Pune, India which will begin later this year.