South Asian Junior Championship in Sri Lanka

–      AASL confident of 7 medals in Asian Juniors

–       Overseas training for juniors

CT Sports: Sri Lanka is set to host the South Asian Junior Athletics Championship next year said President of AASL Maj. Gen Palitha Fernando.

The third edition of the South Asian Junior Athletics Championship was set to be hosted in India last year but was postponed. Sri Lanka were set to host the event in 2016 but had to postpone it due to lack of a proper stadium.

“We have informed members we are ready to host the event next year under minimum expenses without unnecessary opening ceremonies and trimmings,” said Fernando. The championship will be held on May 5-6 if everything goes according to plan.

Next year will be a heavy year for junior athletes as there’s the Asian Junior Championship (June 5-7) and the IAAF World Junior Championship (July 10-15).

AASL has already pooled junior athletes for the Asian Junior Championship and Fernando assured they will win at least 7 medals.

Meanwhile, AASL has identified three junior athletes who have performed remarkably and will be sending them for overseas training. Two 400m runners Pasindu Kodikara and Aruna Darshan who clocked sub 48 seconds in the event and long jumper Ridma Nishadi who leapt 6.08m in the long jump will get the opportunity. (AK)

Junior Pool 

4×100 M: Asiri Wijesekara, Suraj Dinusha, Y.C.A. Yodasinghe, Sahan Rajapaksha, Yohan de Silva

200 M: Shalika Weerasinghe

4 x 400 M: S. Aruna Darshana, P.M.P.L. Kodikara, Pabasara Nikuka, Ravishka Indrajith, Pasindu Mihiranga

110 M Hurdles: Shehan Kariyawasam

800 M: D.H.M.S. Karunaratna

400 M Hurdles: P.M.P.L. Kodikara, Navodya Sankalpa

High Jump: C.V. Kasthuriarachchi

Women

100 M: D.T. Amashi de Silva

4 x 400 M: K.U.D.M.S. Kumarasinghe, Padmasiri Banda, Tharaka Divyanjali, Kavindya Thathsarani, K. Shanika Lakshani
3000 M: Ashmika Herath

Long Jump: K.K.R.N. Abeyrathna