SL team leave for Asian Grand Prix

Team of nine athletes took wing to China yesterday to compete in the two-leg Asian Grand Prix series . The team includes seven members of Sri Lanka’s Asian Championship team and two other athletes who have made the cut in their performances last year.

Unlike on previous occasions, both legs of the Asian Grand Prix will be held at the same town Chongqing, China on 4 and 7 June. With the lack of local competitions due to the prevailing security situation in the country it will be important for athletes to perform well in both legs of the meet, as it will help them to earn points which will affect their world ranking positions.

Earlier Sri Lanka’s request to include sprinter Himasha Eashan for the meet has been rejected by the organisers, as a Chinese athlete with better timing than Himasha has been included for the position which fell vacant due to the injury of Vinoj Suranjaya de Silva, who was the fastest SL athlete last year.Selections for the Asian Grand Prix are done by the Asian Athletics Association based on the previous year’s performances of Asian athletes and their availability.

It is especially important since the world governing body; IAAF opted for world rankings instead of the traditional method of qualifying times to select athletes for major global championships, with more credence and points given to performances at international – rather than local  events.

Coach of Nadeesha Ramanayaka , Muddika Thushara is acting as the manager of the tour.

Asian Grand Prix Team

Men: Ajith Premakumara (400m), Rusiru Chathuranga (800m), Sumedha Ranasinghe (Javelin Throw), Greshan Dhananjaya (Triple Jump)
Women: Nadeesha Ramanayaka (400m), Nimali Liyanarachchi (800m), Gayanthika Abeyrathne (800m), Dulanjali Ranasinghe (High Jump), Tharika Fernando (Shot Put)

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