Triple Jumper Hashini included in SAG Team
Triple Jumper Hashini Balasooriya, who wasn’t included in the team initially, has been added to the team following an appeal. Hashini leapt 12.95m during the trials to be placed second behind Vidusha Lakshani. Her performance was equal to that of the Bronze medalist at the last South Asian Games for the event, and hence, National selectors have agreed to include her in the team.
AASL initially prepared the team naming two athletes per event, but Sports Ministry had requested them to reduce the team stating the numbers were too much. Hence, they were compelled to cut down on the second placed athlete of some events.
Hashini is not the only athlete to make an appeal for inclusion. Several other athletes, including 400m hurdler Asitha Rathnasena, have made appeals.
The South Asian Games 2019 will be held from 1-10 December in Nepal. A team of 56 athletes is set to take part if no more changes are made to the team. The team only includes four Gold medalists from the last South Asian Games – Himasha Eashan (100m), Vinoj Suranjaya de Silva (200m), Nimali Liyanarachchi (800m) and Indunil Herath (800m).
