Nearly 500 North East athletes to compete
52nd Junior Athletic National C’ships :
BERNARD PERERA
The 52nd Junior Athletic championships one of the major events of the
athletic calendar organised by the Sri Lanka Athletic Association is
scheduled to be conducted at the Sugathadasa Stadium on June 4, 5 and 6
commencing at 8 a.m. each day. This was disclosed by Athletic
Association President General Palitha Fernando at a press briefing held
at AASL auditorium yesterday.
Addressing the mediamen he said that this is the stepping stone for
young athletes to enter the national level pools to represent the
country at the international arena.
He also said that Sri Lanka’s main telecommunication giant Sri Lanka
Telecom has come forward to sponsor this event and also all the events
conducted by AASL during the year.
Adding further he stated that athletes from all districts excluding
Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi have confirmed their participation at this
meet and 14 athletes from Jaffna district will fly today to Colombo
spending their own money to compete at this meet.
Over 2,200 athletes from all parts of the country will be seen in
action on these three days of competition. It is also interesting to
note that nearly five hundred athletes from the liberated North and East
competing under difficult conditions. Their participation here will show
the talents what was kept aside from nearly three decades, and also give
the AASL to find new poolists to undergo training for future
international event.
The participation of these athletes from Northern and Eastern
Provinces also could pave the way for high class competition which could
also lower many existing records.
General Palitha also noted that “this event will serve as a trial to
pick athletes to undergo training as preparations for the Junior World
Athletic Championships to be held in Italy in the near future.
We have to be prepared for the forthcoming South Asian Games to be
held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in January 2010. Everyone in this country
expect the athletes to bring in a large haul of medals from this games.
Earlier too it was athletics that had the richest harvest of medals at
SA Games. As such we have to be prepared to maintain this trend,” he
said.
The events will be worked for age groups of under - 12, 14, 16, 18,
20, and 23 for both sexes. He added that the meet is sure to bring in
new talented athletes to the limelight.
Chairperson of Sri Lanka Telecom Mrs. Leisha de Silva Chandrasena
addressing the media as the chief guest said that her organisation came
forward to serve the athletes in a big way. This is one of the sports
that most of the poor masses can participate. If they are given the
right opportunity they will bring honour to the country.
Athletes in Sri Lanka has done the country proud by winning medals.
They need the co-operation of all of us if we are to maintain our
reputation in this sports, and she wished all the success for the meet.
Chairperson SLT will be the chief guest on the final day of the meet. |