Apsara - one of the most promising athletes
S M Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Correspondent
Fourteen year old Apsara Maralande of Mahamaya Girls College, Kandy
is one of the most promising athletes in the hill capital and possibly
in the country today and her performances has brought her a rich haul of
medals during her brief period of participation.
Apsara Maralande |
A section of the famous Maralande sporting family in the hill country
who excelled in many sports for Trinity College and the country
especially at cricket. Percy Maralande captained the Trinity College
cricket team for three years from 1920.
He captained the team in 1920, 1021 and 1922 and won the big match
against St Anthony a College in all three years. Then Nimal Maralande
captained Trinity in 1958 and 1959 but he is better known in the rugby
field having represented the national team with distinction.
Apsara Maralande shot into fame in the local athletic scene with some
dazzling performances both at the Zonal and Provincial level and her
forte has been the short distance running. Winning at the local
competitions was a mere formality for her.
Last year at the Junior National Championships she won the first
place in the 100 metres and the 200 metres. In 2010 at the 100 metres
event of the Asian Junior championship held in Vietnam she was placed
sixth.
The same year at the Junior national championship she timed 12.29
seconds in the 100 metres sprint creating a new record. This was a
record which stood for 26 years and the earlier record holder was Tania
Vanheer who timed 12.30 seconds.
At the first Asian Youth Games she was a member of the Sri Lanka 4 x
200 metres relay team which was placed third.
Her performances brought her the honour of being appointed captain of
the Sri Lanka Youth team which participated in the World Youth
Championship 2011 in Isle of Man.
In Apsara Maralande Sri Lanka has a promising athlete who should
shine in the future. |