Chandrika's dreams shatter in Pune

Prince Gunasekara

Sri Lanka's 400m record holder Chandrika Subhashini failed to live upto expectations when she was placed last in the final during the Fourth Asian Athletics Championship in Pune, India yesterday.

She clocked 56.88 seconds but she had finished Wednesday's semi-finals in 54.16 seconds. It seemed like she had given up the race in the last 15 metres and she collapsed after crossing the finish line, suffering from dehydration. She was immediately given necessary treatments by doctors.

Meanwhile Jani Chaturangani was placed 7th at the womens 100 metres final last evening, clocking 11.91 seconds. However she had clocked 11.81 seconds at the semi-final on Wednesday. China's Wei Yongii timed 11.29 seconds to be crowned as Asia's fastest woman. Silver medalist, Japan's Kiyato Fukishuma clocked 11.53 seconds while Chinese athlete Tao Voujia won the bronze medal with a 11.63-second run. Chinese athlete Su Bingtian clocked 10.17 seconds in the mens 100 metres final to become the fastest man in Asia, followed by silver medalist, Qatar's Samuel Adal Baari (10.27 seconds) and Oman's Al Barakaat (10.30 seconds) who won the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Meanwhile the Sri Lankan men's 4x400 metres relay team was chosen yesterday, based on their performances yesterday. So, Chanaka Dilan Aloka, Anjana Madushan, Dulan Priyashantha and Chanaka Madushan will run in the relay on the last day of the championship.