World Athletics approves USD 40,000 for SLA-High performance project

World Athletics has approved a grant of USD 40,000 over a two-year period to Sri Lanka Athletics’ (SLA) high performance project, where they have targeted the 4x400m relay teams (men/women) and 3000m steeple chase women’s event.

According to senior official and recorder of Sri Lanka Athletics, Saman Kumara Gunawardana, these three events (3000m Steeple Chase Women, 4x400m Men and Women) have been selected as events which Sri Lanka’s junior athletes have the highest level of potential based on their achievements during the past two years.

Sri Lanka men won the Asian Junior Gold medal in the 4x400m in 2018, while being a finalist in the World Junior Championship the same year. Women’s 4x400m team won the Bronze medal at the Asian Junior Championship, while representing Sri Lanka in the World Junior Championship. Also, Parami Wasanthi Marisstella won Sri Lanka’s first ever youth Olympic medal in the 2000m steeple chase in 2018, and was a Gold medalist at the Asian Junior 3000m steeple chase. The previous year her training partner Asmika Herath too excelled in the steeple chase event. Sri Lanka has done well in the world ranking of those events during the period.

“Total of 22 athletes will be selected for the project from among young athletes. 7 male and 7 female 400m runners along with 8 female 3000m steeple chase runners will benefit from the project,” said Gunawardana.

Athletes like Asian Junior 400m Gold medalist and double SAG Gold medalist Aruna Darshana, Asian Junior Silver medalist Pasindu Kodikara, Asian Youth Silver medalist Navishka Sandeesh, Youth Olympic medalist Parami Wasanthi Marisstella, Asian Junior medalist and SAG triple Gold medalist Dilshi Kumarasinghe and 400m runner Nadeesha Ramanayaka have already been shortlisted, while the rest of the positions will be filled after the next National event.

The project will target 2022 Asian Games and 2023 World Athletics Championship. While the project focuses on young athletes, senior athletes over those events such as double South Asian Gold medalist, 30-year-old Nilani Rathnayaka and 28-year-old 400m runner Kalinga Kumarage will not benefit from the project.

“Purpose of this project is to get our young athletes to shine and get them to reach Asian Games medal winning standards. Yes, there are some senior athletes with better times than the youngsters at the moment, but our focus is the future,” said Gunawardana.

Sri Lanka Athletics will receive USD 20,000 per year from World Athletics, from which SLA will pay USD 75 per athlete/month for 18-month period prior to the Asian Games. Apart from that they will undergo monthly coaching clinics and will have four test competitions during the 18-month period. USD 250 will be allocated for each of them to buy a pair of spikes and warm up shoes.

Few years back World Athletics approved USD 100,000 for a special project by Sri Lanka Athletics to develop Javelin Throwers. They received the first payment of USD 25,000 for the first month, but due to lack of progress during its first year, World Athletics discontinued funding the project.