Thrower Nadeeka Lakmali and middle distance runner W. K. L. A. Nimali won gold medals in their respective events at the second leg of the Asian Athletics Grand Prix at Chonburi in Thailand yesterday, the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka said.
Lakmali who was also the winner (with a distance of 56.83 metres) at the first leg of the Grand Prix, held in Bangkok on May 4, cleared a distance of 55.99 metres to win the women’s javelin throw.
Nimali clocked two minutes and 07.08 seconds to win the women’s 800 metres while Shanika Samanmali clocked two minutes and 7.53 seconds to settle for the bronze medal.
Incidentally, Nimali was placed sixth (with 2:10.12 sec) at the first leg but turned tables on the favourites to win a gold yesterday.
Meanwhile, Kalhara Seneviratne improved the feat that brought him the bronze at the first leg, to win the silver as he clocked 47.14 seconds in the men’s 400 metres.
The AASL said that women’s 400 metres runner Chandrika Subashini, who won a bronze at the first leg, could not take part in the Thailand event due to an illness yesterday.
The third leg of the Asian Athletics Grand Prix will be held in Colombo on Sunday, May 12.
