Vidusha impresses on the opening day

The fiercely contested Defence Services Athletic Championship commenced its 10th edition today (13th) and will be conducted over three days at the Sugathadasa Stadium.  

Defence Services Athletic Championship pits the best athletes of Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air F

orce against each other representing their respective armed force. The competition at the championship is immense with many of the national athletes of the country being members of the armed forces and will be determined to bring glory to their respective forces.

Triple jumper Vidusha Lakshani of Sri Lanka Army continued her good form from the National Athletic Championship where she established a new meet record leaping 13.60m. Vidusha came out with another encouraging leap at today’s competition which was measured at 13.58m which is a new defense services meet record jump. It is a welcome sight to see the national record holding triple jumper coming back to form after a few disappointing local outings which resulted in her not being selected for the Commonwealth Games as well as the Asian Games athletic contingent.  H P Balasooriya also of Sri Lanka Army was placed second leaping to a best of 13.40m. The Twin Sisters KAT Lakshani and KAS Dulanjani of Sri Lanka Air Force was placed third and fourth respectively.

Steeple chaser Nilani Ratnayake of Sri Lanka Army who has been the frontrunner in the women’s 1500m was beaten handsomely today by Gayanthika Abeyrathen of Sri Lanka Navy 800m fame, who made a return to the 1500m event. Gaynthika clocked 4:21.12 to finish the race in top spot while Nilani was placed second clocking 4:24.86. W P Dulakshi of Sri Lanka Aiir Force was placed third clocking 4:28.94 making it a diverse podium where all three forces were represented on the podium.

The premier women’s javelin thrower of the Island and the National record holder of the event Dilhani Lekamge secured the victory with a throw of 53.59m. Her team mate Nadeeka Lakmali was placed second with a throw of 51.84m while H P Maduwanthi also from Sri Lanka Army was placed third with a throw of 45.89m to complete an all Army podium in the Women’s javelin throw.

Commonwealth and Asian Games Representative Long Jumper, Parasad Wimalasiri of Sri Lanka Army was the only athlete who managed to breach the 08-meter mark at the Men’s Long Jump competition winning the top spot with a jump of 08.07m. Amila Jayasiri of Sri Lanka Airforce who has become Prasad’s main challenger in the local arena was placed second with a jump of 7.98m. D C Dissanayake of SriLanka Navy finished third for his leap of 7.60m.

The 200m finals were the highlight of the evening session. In the Men’s 200m final Ajith Premakumara of Sri Lanka Army who was a member of the Sri Lanka Men’s 4X400m at the recently concluded Asian Games was placed first in the 200m final clocking 21.22secs. H S Kumara also of Sri Lanka Army was placed second clocking 21.60secs. D M Silva of Sri Lanka Air Force clocked 21.65secs to secure the bronze medal.

Rumeshika Ratnayake of Sri Lanka Amy kept her unbeaten run in the country as she swept to victory in the Women’s 200m clocking 24.32secs. Nirmali Madushika of Sri Lanka Air Force finished second clocking 24.83secs ahead of R Nadeesha who was a fraction behind Madushika to secure the Bronze medal in a photo finish clocking 24.84secs.

Sri Lanka Army have taken the lead after the end of the first day of the meet with 66 points to their name. Army have taken the lead 18 medals which includes 9 Gold medals, 6 Silver medals and 3 Bronze medals accumulating 66 points in total. Sri Lanka Airforce is in the second place with 27 points and Navy in third with 15 points.

Medal table at the end of Day 01