Chandrika searching for gold in Chonburi
Sri Lanka’s hopes for a more successful second leg of Asian Grand
Prix Athletics Championship could be a reality according to the team
sources, here in Chonburi, Thailand. The visiting Lankans accounted for
only one gold medal at the first leg which was held at Thammasat
University Grounds in Bangkok last Saturday, but Chandrika Subhashini is
confident that she would be able to convert her silver into gold in
Chonburi.
She wore silver after finishing second with a timing of 53.35 seconds
behind the winning Indian Raju Pooramma in the women's 400 metres final.
However, on the Thammasat track under drastic heat, she led the race
for almost 370 metres before Pooramma came in charging and overtook her
in the last 50 metres. Pooramma, also the winner of last year’s Asian
Grand Prix, is probably the strongest opponent for Chandrika, but the
hard minded Lankan lass is confident of breast the tape.
“I was in front until the last few metres. I knew that she (Pooramma)
was a strong contender but I am confident that I can do this” Chandrika
told the Daily News.
Meanwhile the golden girl, Nadeeka Lakmali is likely to partner
another Sri Lankan on the Podium at the Chonburi leg. Olympian Nadeeka
Lakmali cleared 56.83 metres to win the only gold medal for Sri Lanka,
while the other Lankan Dilhani Lekamge missed the bronze medal by a
fraction in the same event. Lekamge was placed fifth with a 50.26 metre
throw, just 30 centimeters behind silver medalist Indian Kumari Mukesh.
Jani Chaturangani, the only Lankan sprinter to enter the top eight slots
of the next two Asian Grand Prix legs, winning the third place with
12.13 seconds, said that she is looking to cross the 12-second mark in
Chonburi. Her best run stands at 11.78 seconds, recorded at the National
Sports Festival last year.
The second leg of the Grand Prix will be held in Chonburi, Thailand
on May 8 before the team returns to enjoy home conditions at the final
leg in Colombo on Sunday. |