SL named 25 for Asian Games – team to be finalized after Nationals

The Athletics Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) has submitted 25 entries for the Asian Games. However, their participation will be finalized only after considering the performances of athletes, at the National Athletics Championship from 3-5 August.

All athletes had been given reasonable performance standards to reach during the National Championship. Failing to make those will result in their omission from the Asian Games team.

The notable omission from the current squad is the Asian Championship silver medalist, Dilhani Lekamge who could not gain the expected standard of 58 meters, at the last two trials, where she could throw only 51 and 54 metres.

Of the 28 athletes, the relay teams include six out of which only five per team will be selected during the Nationals. In selecting the 4x100m relay team it is targeted that the fourth athlete clocks a minimum of 10.55 seconds or below. The fastest in Sri Lanka, Vinoj Suranjaya was hospitalized after being diagnosed with Dengue last month. He has commenced training and his performance during the Nationals will be vital for the relay team’s chances to make it to the Asian Games.

The 4x400m relay team’s target is that all four runners should clock under 46.50 seconds. All top four athletes of the relay team have been performing at the 46.50 second target level earlier and they will be expected to run the given timing next month.

The two long jumpers, Danushka Sandaruwan (7.99M) and Janaka Wimalasiri (8.10M) are named in the team but they will have to clear over 7.90m during the trials to finalize their inclusion.

The high jumper Ushan Thiwanka will clear 2.24M while the 800m runner Indunil Herath who set a new SL record recently needs to clock 1 minute 47.5 seconds for the confirmation of his entry. The 1500m runner Hemantha Kumara who came up with a surprising performance at the first trial will have to run under 3 minutes 44 seconds to gain his place in the team.

In the Women’s team, Asian Championship silver medalist sprinter Rumeshika Rathnayaka is targeted to run in a timing of 23.5 seconds which she is expected to achieve with ease. Meanwhile, the two women 800m runners Nimali Liyanarachchi and Gayanthika Abeyrathne, who flopped at Commonwealth Games, will have to run exceptionally well, and go below 2 minutes 3 seconds for the confirmation of their participation. The steeple chase runner Nilani Rathnayaka has been included in the team and is targeted to do a run of 9 minutes 55 seconds while marathoner Hiruni Wijayaratne who broke the long standing SL record in the 10,000m recently, has been included for the 10,000m as she opts out of the marathon due to the hot weather conditions in Jakarta.

The two 400m runners Upamalika Rathnakumari and Nadeesha Ramanayaka are included in the team to run the two laps in the newly introduced 4x400m mixed relay. However since AASL had not included Nadeesha Ramanayaka in the previously confirmed long list of athletes (Mixed relay was not included in the initial events list) her confirmation is pending and if she will not get the go ahead it will be either Rumeshika Rathnayaka or one of the two 800m runners who will be selected to run that one lap in the 4x400m mixed relay.

The Asian Games will be held from 18 August to 2 September at Jakarta and Palembang in Indonesia where the six day athletics event is scheduled to start 25 August.

Squad:

Men
Vinoj Suranjaya de Silva (100M, 200M, 4x100M)
Yupun Priyadarshana (100M, 4x100M)
Himasha Eashan (4x100M)
Shehan Ambepitiya (4x100m)
DK Wijerathne (4x100M)
Mohommed Ashroff (4x100M)
Aruna Darshana (400M, 4x400M, Mixed Relay)
Kalinga Kumarage (400M, 4x400M, Mixed Relay)
Dilip Ruwan (4x400M)
Ajith Premakumara (4x400M)
Pasindu Kodikara (4x400M)
Anjana Gunarathne (4x400M)
Ushan Thiwanka (High Jump)
Janaka Prasad Wimalasiri (Long Jump)
Danushka Gunathilaka (Long Jump)
Sumedha Ranasinghe (Javelin Throw)
Indunil Herath (800M)
Hemantha Kumara (1500M)

Women
Rumeshika Rathnayaka (200M)
Gayanthika Abeyrathne (800M)
Nimali Liyanarachchi (800M)
Nilani Rathnayaka (3000M St.Ch)
Hiruni Wijayarathne (10000M)
Upamalika Rathnakumari (4x400M Mix Relay)
Nadeesha Ramanayaka (4x400m Mix Relay) (Pending Confirmation from NOC)