Cycling pools in preparation for SA Games

Bernard PERERA

Trials were held recently to set up men's and women's cycling pools in preparation for the forthcoming South Asian Games to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh early next year. These trials were held by the Chairman of the Selection Committee headed by Anthony Symons. The other members of the Committee were Leslie Rupasinghe, Surendra Rajan, L.H. Sarath and A. Alexander.

An Individual time trial for women was conducted covering a distance of 20km where Lasanthi Gunatilleke (Sama Cycle Club ) clocked 32 minutes and 16 secs. To top the list of qualifiers. Other riders who performed well to enter the Pool are W.K. Pushparani (SL Army) 34.55, Niluka Shyamali (Sama CC) 35.07, Dilukshi Sumanaweera (Winged Wheel CC) 35.29, Ayesha Sumanaweera (Winged Wheell CC), and Manori Kumari (Lihini CC) 35.30.

The Men's Trials were held at Eheliyagoda with the participation of almost all leading racing cyclists holding licence issued by the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation. The riders who faced the flag covered a distance of 111 kilometers.

Sri Lanka Army's Wasantha Harischandra and Sri Lanka Ports Authority's Isuru Prabath clocked the same time 2:47.36 secs. to be placed on top. Nearly ten riders managed to average 40km for the event which is a good sign for the riders. Ten riders have been selected for the pool to undergo training under the national coach.

Ten riders selected are Wasantha Harischandra (Sri Lanka Army), Isuru Prabath (SLPA), Kivisuru Karunaratne (Sri Lanka Army), Navin Ruchira (Sri Lanka Air Force), Jagath Kumara (Sri Lanka Police), Upul Lokuge (Sri Lanka Police), Dane Nugera, Sumith Silva (Sri Lanka Air Force), Sudeera Nilanga, Meemanage Perera (Sri Lanka Police)