Sri Lanka was dealt with their first major dissapointment today (9th) at the Asian Junior Athletic Championship which is currently underway in Gifu, Japan.
Junior athletes had two perfect opening days ending day one unbeaten and winning four medals on the second day. But the morning session of the second day didn’t quite go to plan with one of Sri Lanka’s medal prospects, middle distance runner Harsha Karunarathne crashing out from the heats of the 800m.
Running in the second heat of the race Karunarathne got on to a speedy start and got in front of the pack but decided to slow the pace of the race after the opening 200m. This decision however costed him a spot in the final as in the final lap of the race Karunarathne was outdone by Japanese runner Fuku Torii who won the heat while Mohammed Raheem clocked 1:55.05 to clinch second place finishing a fraction ahead of the Sri Lankan who was placed third clocking 1:55.06. With the top only the top two athletes gaining qualification to the final and the two best losers making the cut for the final Karunarathne who was 9th overall in the timing will be regretting the decision to slow the pace down of the race in the opening round of the race which costed him a place in the final and possibly a Asian Junior medal.
Sprinter Amasha De Silva progressed to the final of the 200m clocking 24.77secs in the heat where she was placed third and stands 5th overall with her time in th heats. Amasha will compete in the final of the women’s 200m at 10.30am on the 10th in pursuit of her second medal at the championship.
Silver medal winner at the Men’s 400m, Pasindu Kodikara was placed fourth in the second heat of the Men’s 400m hurdles clocking 55.35 secs. Pasindu qualified for the final of the event with the 5th best overall time in the heats and will compete in the Men’s 400m hurdles final tommorow (10th) at 10.05am
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Sri Lankan Juniors will be in action in Gifu, Japan from the 7th to 10th of June in pursuit of becoming the regional champions…
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