Junior athletes leave for SAFF Athletics C’ships

A thirty seven member (19 boys and 17 girls) junior athletic team will leave the island today to participate at the South Asian Junior Athletic Championships to be held in Chennai, India on December 11 and 12.

Charith Kapukotuwa will be the team captain while hurdler K.A.D. Ranga Kelum will be the captain of the boys team and D. Madurapperuma discus thrower will lead the Girls team for the games. Thirteen officials are on tour while the overall manager will be T. M. Devendran. The Lady Chaperon in charge of the girls team is Damayanthi Perera.

The juniors will have the opportunity to show their talents for the first in an international event which will be of vital importance for these youngsters who are hoping to be the future athletes of Sri Lanka. They are expected to perform well in this championships as the conditions are highly favourable for our athletes.

A big haul of medals are expected from these athletes said an official of the Sri Lanka Athletic Association.

The team

Boys: Ranil Jayawardena - 200 m, 4 x 100 m., Y. M. W. Gunaratne - 400 m, 800 m, 4 x 400 m, U. V. Weerasinghe - 400 m, 4 x 400 m, N. W. J. K. Weerasinghe - 800 m, K. P. Hasitha Nirmal - 110 m hurdles, K. A. D. Ranga Kelum - 110 m hurdles, W. D. N. Milantha Sampath - long jump, L. P. Sudheera Nilanga - long jump, G. M. Udara Silva - high jump, A. V. G. Sachithra Mihiran - high jump, G. A. Sachin Maduranga - javelin throw, L. Fernando - javelin throw, Charith Kapukotuwa - shot put, U. Sankapushpa - shot put, R. C. Peiris - 4 x 100 m, A. G. V. S. Jayasekara - 4 x 400 m, Isuru Nimantha - 4 x 400 m, D. M. A. J. Nawarathne - 4 x 400 m, K. D. C. N. Jayasekara - 4 x 400 m.

Girls: Udara Rathnayaka - 100 m, 4 x 100 m, G. A. Ishara Sandeepani - 200 m, 100 m, 4 x 100 m, M. G. I. N. Gunawardena - 400 m, 4 x 400 m, R. M. S. K. Ratnayaka - 400 m, 4 x 400 m, K. R. R. Sanjeewani - 800 m, 4 x 400 m, K. A. C. Priyadharshani - 800 m, D. A. Harshani Wijesinghe - 100 m hurdles, Ravihari Rajapaksha - long jump, Achintha Nirmani - long jump, H. M. N. Siriwardena - high jump, H. L. D. Imeshi Nikeshala - high jump, D. Madurapperuma - discus throw, A. W. D. Chamali Sumanadasa - discus throw, H. P. D. H. Maduwanthi - javelin throw, Chamithra Kavindi - javelin throw, Gayanga Botejue - 4 x 100 m, S. Lakshani Widanaduruge - 4 x 100 m, Nimesha Nirangi - 4 x 400 m.

Officials: T. M. Devendran (Manager), Sampath Jayasena (Asst. Manager), D. A. Dayarathna (Asst. Manager), Ms Damayanthi Perera (Lady Chaperone), Ms Geethani Mallawaarachchi (Lady Chaperone), Ms A. D. Nandawathie (Coach), Ananda Athukorala (Head Coach), Susantha Fernando (Coach), Nihal Abeywickrama (Coach), Prabath Fernando (Coach), Parakrama Bandara (Coach), J. Nimal Jayarathna (Physiotherapist), Samantha Rajapaksha (Physiotherapist).