Shanika Manoji Amarasinghe of the Sothern province established a new national record in the Women’s Hammer throw on the final today (24th) at the Matara Kotawila Stadium during the final day of the 43rd National Sports Festival (NSF) athletic competition.
Manoji coached by veteran coach A J Rodrigo roared-in with a throw of 48.76m and stunned the Ayesha Maduwanthi who held the previous national record with a distance of 48.08m and was the favorite to take gold in the event. Manoji’s performance is a huge improvement from her previous personal best which was 41.00m where she was placed third in the competition behind Maduwanthi and H. A Lakshika but leap-frogged both with the record breaking throw.
Ayesha Maduwanthi representing Uva bettered the previous NSF meet record of 43.18m with a performance of 43.36m but had to be satisfied with the silver. H. A Lakshika of the Western province clinched Bronze with a throw of 42.86m.
