Fans have to wait more for much expected Juniors vs Seniors
Athletics fraternity of Sri Lanka who were anxiously waiting to see thrilling battles between senior and junior athletes, especially in the men’s 400m, will be disappointed at Saturday’s second National trials for the Asian Games 2018, with the juniors opting out citing they cannot cope with the work load.
Two junior athletes, Aruna Darshan (46.55 sec) and Pasindu Kodikara (46.70 seconds), ran several sub 47 seconds races in the 400m during the Junior Nationals (23-26 April) and Asian Junior Athletic Championship (5-6 May). They will be eyeing Gold medals at the Asian Junior Championship (6-10 June in Gifu Japan) and will also eye medals at the IAAF World Junior Championship (10-15 July in Finland).
Both athletes are opting out from this weekend’s senior trials as they have been competing non-stop, and their priority right now is the Asian Junior Championship, which is less than a month away.
“I informed AASL that it’s a bit too much of a workload for Aruna as our priority is the Gold medal at the Asian Junior Championship. I asked them to please consider Aruna for the Asian Games based on his current performance and if someone else performs better than Aruna we have no objection if they are selected,” said Asanka Rajakaruna, coach of SAJAC triple Gold medallist (200m, 400m and 4x400m) Aruna Darshana.
AASL had made it compulsory for athletes to attend trials, but it makes sense to include both Darshana and Kodikara for the Asian Games pool based on their performances at the Junior Nationals and SAJAC, as they will be available to compete at the Nationals on 3-5 August before the Asian Games along with seniors. Sri Lanka has only two other sub 47 seconds runners this year in Kalinga Kumarage (46.08 seconds) and Dilip Ruwan (46.39 seconds).
Meanwhile, another bright young prospect, Dilshi Kumarasinghe, the triple Gold medallist at the SAJAC (400m, 800m, 4x400m), too, has not confirmed her participation at the trials. She too has proved herself by clocking two sub 55 seconds, with a best of 54.36 seconds. Dilshi’s inclusion will be vital for Sri Lanka’s chances of winning a medal in the event a 4x400m women’s relay team is sent for the Asian Games, especially with Upamalika Rathnakumari and Nadeesha Ramanayaka already dipping under 53 seconds and former National champion Chandrika Rasnayake returning to the track.
High jumper Manjula Kumara Wijesekara will not feature in the trials as he is mulling his retirement following heartbreak during the last Commonwealth Games.
Sprinter Yupun Priyadarshana (based in Italy) who stunned Himasha Eashan at the Army Athletic Championship last year, is back in the country and will compete in the 100m, where Eashan will be eyeing to take revenge. Both athletes will be vying to make the 4x100m relay team. The 4x100m relay team comprising of Himasha, Vinoj Suranjaya de Silva, Mohammad Ashraff and Shehan Ambepitiya, placed sixth at the last Commonwealth Games and fourth at the last Asian Championship.
Yupun will be a welcome addition to the relay team as he is faster than Ashraff and Ambepitiya. However, relay team places are up for grabs following the trials as sprinters like D.K. Wijerathne are waiting in the wings with fast runs.
The 800m duo Nimali Liyanarachchi and Gayanthika Abeyrathne will have to prove themselves if they want to compete at the Asian Games, as both of them could not perform well as expected in Gold Coast.
Men’s long jump is going to be a thrilling contest with Janaka Prasad Wimalasiri and Amila Jayasiri, the only jumpers to leap above the 8m mark, facing a strong challenge by the likes of Danushka Sandaruwan (7.99m), Dhanuka Liyanapathirana (7.92m) and Greshan Dhananjaya (7.90m).
Vidusha Lakshani and Sanjaya Jayasinghe will have to at least match their personal best or better their performance in the triple jump to have a chance of making it to the team.
Asian Championship Silver medallist Dilhani Lekamge also will have to prove herself during the trials as she did not have a great performance at the Commonwealth Games or senior trials.
Men’s javelin throw position hangs in the balance, as all three competitors, Sumedha Ranasinghe, Sampath Ranasinghe and Waruna Lakshan Dayarathne, have not been at their usual best recently. All of them had thrown over the 80m mark earlier.
Despite selecting the Asian Games teams, their participation will only be confirmed following their performance at the National Championship (3-5 August), which will serve as a fitness test for the team.
Asian Games will be held in Indonesia this year. Athletics will be worked off from 25 August to 3 September with 48 Gold medals on offer. Sri Lanka last won an Asian Games medal in athletics in 2006.
Quarter miler Kalinga Kumarage, sprinters Rumeshika Rathnayake and Vinoj Suranjaya de Silva who left for Malaysia for the Malaysian Open, have already been assured of a place in the Asian Games pool, while 400m hurdler Asanka Rathnasena’s performance at the Malaysian Open will be monitored, since his recent performance is a long way from the required qualification standard for the Asian Games
