Asian Championship, boon to SL athletics – Palitha Fernando

Prince Gunasekara from Pune, India

A revival in Sri Lankan athletics has been initiated during the recently concluded Asian Athletic Championship (AAC), said Sri Lanka Athletic Association president Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando. Altogether 20 Sri Lankan athletes took part at the 20th AAC in Pune, India and won two silver medals and a bronze medal. Sri Lanka was ranked 14th among 45 nations.

“Our performances at the AAC cannot be described as a setback in Sri Lankan athletics.

It has been an opportunity for us to identify the right direction which SL athletics must move on.

This is a new leap in country's athletics we won three medals and there were four fourth places. Now we have to focus on these events. 400 metres relay, 800m and high jump events will be given top priority,” Fernando explained.

“Unexpected misfortunes struck on our athletes and we had to give up hopes on few certain medals.

But Sri Lanka's Nadeeka Lakmali was qualified for World Athletic Championship and it is indeed a great achievement we have to be proud of,” Palitha fernando further said.

China became the overall champions winning 16 golds, six silvers and five bronze medals while the hosting India had to be satisfied with overall sixth place with two golds, six silvers and nine bronze medals. 120 Indian athletes participated in 20th AAC.