The Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo came alive with the commencement of the 101st National Athletics Championship (28th July), the pinnacle of the local Athletics field.
This year’s tournament welcomed athletes not only from Sri Lanka, but also from India and the Maldives, adding an international flair to the event. The opening day witnessed impressive performances, with one Indian athlete making history by breaking a tournament record.
In the Men’s Javelin Throw event, Indian national Kishore Kumar Jena showcased his prowess with a remarkable throw of 84.38 meters, surpassing the previous tournament record of 82.18 meters set by Sri Lanka’s Sumedha Ranasinghe last year.
Kishore’s outstanding performance earned him the top spot, while his fellow countryman Shivapal Singh secured the second position with a throw of 77.36 meters. Sumedha Ranasinghe managed to secure the third place with a throw of 73.40 meters, proving the intensity of the competition.
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The Women’s division also saw Indian athletes shine brightly. Seema, representing India, dominated the Women’s 10,000 meters event, finishing with an impressive time of 35:29.22 minutes.
In the Women’s 1500 meters’ event, it was Sri Lankan athlete Gayantika Abeyratne who stole the show with her remarkable performance. She crossed the finish line in 4:18.83 minutes, showcasing her dominance in the race.
The women’s Shot Put event was equally captivating, with Ovini Chandrasekhara emerging as the victor with a throw of 13.43 meters. Meanwhile, in Women’s Hammer Throw event, A. Lakshika secured a win for Sri Lanka with her throw of 44.73 meters.
>> Overall Results of the opening day<<
Excitement peaks as the 100m and 400m Finals await at 101st National Athletics Championship. Stay Tuned to ThePapare.com, Sri Lanka’s Premier Sports Website, for all exclusive updates from the championship.
