Seven new records set up at Southern Province sports festival

Priyan de Silva Matara Sports and Jayasiri Peduruarachchi-Gandara Group Corr

Seven new games records were established at the 21st Southern Province Sports Festival conducted at the Uyanwatte Stadium, Matara recently.

Southern Province Chief Minister Shan Wijayalal de Silva was the chief guest at the awards ceremony.

Galle district won the overall championships with 312 points while Matara District took second place with 185 points and Hambantota third place.

Chanuka Eranga de Silva of Matara District was adjudged the best men’s athlete at the game while W K L Nimali of Hambantota District who established two new records for the 1500 metres and 400 metres hurdle events was adjudged the best women’s athlete at the games.

The new records established were.

Javelin Men – D S Ranasingha (Galle) 64.72 metres

1500m Men – G H Chamal (Hambantota) 3:53.0

5000m Women – Gayanthika Thushari Atygalla (Hambantota) 16:55.7

400m Hurdle women – W K L Nimali (Hambantota) 1:03.6

1500 metres – women – W K L Nimali (Hambantota) 4:29.1

Long Jump Women – R W Iresha Maduwanthi (Galle) 5.99 m

High Jump Women – L G A Tharanga Vinodani (Matara) 1.69 metres

Galle District won the overall men’s championships with 96 points while Matara were runners-up with 64 points and Hambantota third with 14 points.

Hambantota District won overall women’s championships with 76 points with Matara in second place with 45 points and Galle team came a close third with 44 points. In the team events Galle District won the following.

Kabadi – (Men and Women),

Cricket (Softball) – (Men and Women),

Badminton – (Men and Women),

Swimming – (Men and Women),

Gymnastic – (Women)

Matara District won the Men’s Gymnastic team event while Hambantota won the men’s and women’s Volleyball events.