Sugandhi, Ushan walk away with motor cars
Lakshika Sugandhi and Ushan Thiwanka from Western Province walked away with the ultimate jackpot – the motor cars on offer – when they were adjudged best female and male athlete at the 45th National Sports Festival 2019 concluded at the unsupportive grass track of Vincent Dias Stadium, Badulla.
After two disappointing days of competition, Sugandhi found her form when it really mattered and clocked an impressive 13.90 seconds to win the 100m hurdles finals, and pipped long jumper Anjani Pulwansa for the best female athlete title. Her performance garnered 1,031 points in the IAAF scoring table, which was also the best performance at the NSF.
Participating in his first NSF Ushan Thiwanka cleared 2.12m in the men’s high jump to take the Gold medal and the lead for the best athlete title. None of the other athletes were able to out-perform him, and his effort was equal to 1,028 on the IAAF scoring table.
The final day’s proceedings were hampered by rain where many athletes struggled to perform, especially high jumpers (women) and triple jumpers (men), who faced problems with their run-ups due to prevailing conditions.
Sumesh Wickramasinghe, the fastest athlete at the NSF (winner of both 200m and 100m Gold medals) said if not for wet ground conditions after the rain he could have achieved a much better time. Amasha de Silva was crowned the fastest woman at the NSF 2019, winning both the 100m and 200m Gold medals.
Dilshi Kumarasinghe (400m and 800m) and Nimesna Nandasena (5000m and 10,000m) were the others to win two Gold medals during the three day championship.
Just like last year’s NSF in Polonnaruwa, this year’s competition too finished without any meet record or SL record, as athletes found it hard to perform in unsupportive and damp grass tracks. Many top athletes opted out from the NSF since they did not want to face an injury risk with one month to go for South Asian Games.
Also, Ministry’s brainless scheduling meant 18 top athletes who were competing at the World Military Games in China during the last three days, missed out from participating at the NSF. Top school athletes who are set to compete in the All Island School Games from 30 October to 03 November, too, opted out, making it performance-wise one of the worst National Sports Festival’s in recent times.
Sports Ministry’s ploy of offering motor cars to the best athletes and promising increased cash prizes induced some of the National athletes to compete despite preparing for the SAG.
Western Province won the overall Championship wining 99 Gold medals, while Central finished second with 51 Gold medals. North Western Province finished third with 32 Gold medals.
Results
Women
10.000M: 1. Nimesha Nandasena (EP) 36:21.9 sec, 2. Nilani Ariyadasa (SGP) 36:28.0 sec, 3. Shamali Anusha (Uva) 38:44.2 sec
Hammer Throw: 1. Manoji Amarasinghe (SP) 44.85m, 2. Aruni Lakshika (WP) 44.15m, 3. S.N. Rathnasiri (SGP) 42.18m
High Jump: 1. Dulanjalee Ranasinghe (WP) 1.67m, 2. Muditha Madushani (NWP) 1.58m, 3. V.S. Abayarathne (SGP) 1.50m
400m: 1. Dilshi Kumarasinghe (CP) 55.61 sec, 2. Omaya Udayangani (Uva) 57.28 sec, 3. Shyama Dulani (SP) 58.05 sec
100m hurdles: 1. Lakshika Sugandhi (WP) 13.90 sec, 2. Ireshani Rajasinghe (NWP) 14.01 sec, 3. A.S. Anuththara (WP) 14.69 sec
4x400m: 1. North Western Province 3:54.47 sec, 2. Southern Province 3:56.73 sec, 3. Western Province 3:58.35 sec
100m: 1. Amasha de Silva (Central Province) 12.13 sec, 2. Lakshika Sugandhi (WP) 12.31 sec, 3. Sadeepa Henderson (WP) 12.51 sec
1500M: 1. Champika Dilrukshi (NWP) 4:33.87 sec, 2. R.N. Kumari (CP) 4:38.14 sec, 3. E.R. Dulakshi (SP) 4:41.89 sec
Men
5000m: 1. Sagara Wijewickrama (SGP) 15:9.61 sec, 2. Upul Kumara (Uva) 15:09.64 sec, 3. R.M.S. Pushpakumara (WP) 15:9.87 sec
Triple Jump: 1. Safreen Ahamed (SP) 15.42m, 2. Sanjaya Jayasinghe (SGP) 15.32m, 3. N.C. Kumarasiri (WP) 15.28m
110m hurdles: 1. Roshan Dammika Ranathunga (SGP) 14.45 sec, 2. Saliya Randeewa (WP) 14.92 sec, 3. Malin Udaya Kumara (SGP) 14.98 sec
400M: 1. Lakmal Gunarathne (Uva) 48.00 sec, 2. R.M. Rajakaruna (WP) 48.24 sec, 3. S.D. Gunarathne (CP) 48.70 sec
Javelin Throw: 1. Sampath Ranasinghe (SP) 72.03m, 2. R.N. Kumara (NCP) 66.17M, 3. R.M. Fernando (NWP) 63.91m
4x400m: 1. Western Province 3:19.96 sec, 2. Central Province 3:20.14 sec, 3. Uva Province 3:20.80 sec
100m: 1. Sumesh Wickramasinghe (SP) 10.85 sec, 2. Chamod Yodasinghe (SGP) 10.91 sec, 3. C.L. Kumara (NCP) 10.99 sec
1500m : 1. Rusiru Chathuranga (SP) 3:57.88 sec, 2. U.B. Herath (CP) 3:58.45 sec, 3. A.S. Lakmal (NWP) 3:59.68 sec
