The Athletic Association of Sri Lanka has obtained approval from the Sports Ministry for the teams that will represent the country at the Asian Grad prix and the Thailand open which will be conducted in the coming weeks.
Sri Lanka will enter a team of 7 athletes for the Thailand Open Track & Field Championship which will be held from the 18th to 21st of May over three days. The seven-member team that is set to compete at the championship has been named taking the recent form of the athletes to consideration while some of the top performers in their respective events in the Island who have been overlooked for the international competitions in the past have been given an opportunity to compete against international competition at the said meet.
Sri Lankan team for Thailand Open Track and Field Championship 2019 – Lakmal Gunarathna (Men’s 400m), Ishara Sandaruwan (Men’s Pole Vault), Roshan Dammika (Men’s 110m Hurdles), Asanka Rathnasena (Men’s 400m Hurdles), Shyama Dulakshi (Women’s 400m hurdles), Sarangi Silva (Women’s Long Jump), Lakshika Sugandi (Women’s Heptathlon)
The Asian Grand prix which will be held in two legs on the 4th and the 7th of June in Chongqing, China will see a team of 9 Sri Lankan athletes taking part in the event. Selectors have opted to go for seven athletes who were part of the squad for the Asian Athletic Championship which was recently concluded in Doha while they have also decided to include the National record holder in the women’s Shot put Tharika Kumudumali and the up and coming high jumper Dulanjali Ranasinghe in the squad as well. The 800m duo Nimali Liyanarachchi and Gayanthika Abeyrathna, who failed to live up to expectation and defend their respective Gold and Silver medals at the Asian Athletic Championship, have been afforded a chance for redemption having been named in the squad for the Asian grand prix. Olympian Sumedha Ranasinghe who also could not find his rhythm at the Asian Athletic Championship will be looking to get back into form at the Grand Prix. Rusiru Chathiranga (800m) and Greshan Dhananjaya (Triple Jump) delivered a couple of inspiring performances despite not being able to make it to the podium and have been given another opportunity to compete in an international competition.
Sri Lankan team for Asian Grand Prix 2019 – Ajith Premakumara (Men’s 400m), Rusiru Chathuranga (Men’s 800M), Sumedha Ranasinghe (Men’s Javelin throw), Greshan Dhananjaya (Men’s Triple Jump), Nadeesha Ramanayake (Women’s 400m), Nimali Liyanarachchi (Women’s 800m), Gayanthika Abeyrathna (Women’s 800m), Dulanjali Ranasinghe (Women’s High Jump), Tharika Kumudumali (Women’s Shot Put)
