Chaminda wins a bronze medal in men’s 400 metres

Sarath PREMATHILAKE from Kobe, Japan

Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Wijekoon put up a splendid performance to win the bronze medal in the men’s 400 metres event on the second day of the 19th Asian Athletic Championships continued at the Memorial Stadium in Kobe, Japan yesterday.

Wijekoon returned a timing of three minutes 44.01 seconds and finished behind the winner Mohamed Al Rashmi of Kuwait (3.42.49) and Sajham Moradhi (3.43.40) from Iran who took the second place in this event.

Meanwhile Christina Merril qualified for the women’s 400 metres hurdles final after she finished third in the heats clocking 56.83 seconds which also bettered her Sri Lanka record.

However promising athlete Chandrika Subashini had to be content with the fourth place in the women’s 400 metres final after she returned a timing of 53.35 seconds. Sri Lanka’s Shehan Ambepitiya will be hoping for an improved performance when he competes in the men’s 200 metres event today along with the men’s 4X400 metres relay event.