Parami finishes third, Cross Country to decide medal

Sri Lanka had hopes of their first global athletics medal in a decade, as young steeplechase runner, Parami Wasanthi Marisstella finished third in the 2000M Steeple Chase at the Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Buenos Aires , Argentina.

The 17-year-old from Kuliyapitiya Central College clocked a personal best 6. 33.06 seconds to finished third only behind Ethiopia and Kenya who finished first and second, respectively.

As per the rules of the Youth Olympic Games, every athlete has to compete twice in their event and the performance in both events will be considered for medals. Athletes who compete in events which are above the distance of 800M have to compete in a Cross Country race which is 4km, on 15th at 7.00 pm SL time.

If Parami could perform well during this event, too, she will seal the first global medal for Sri Lanka in Athletics since Susanthika Jayasinghe’s Bronze Medal at the 2007 IAAF World Championship. Also it will be the first Youth Olympic Medal for Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Shuttler Hasini Nusaka was lucky enough to be part of a Badminton Mix event which won the Gold medal at the championship.

Unlike other championships, at the Youth Olympic, a team for the Badminton Mix event includes shuttlers from various countries in one team and has been called a mix international team event.