Final opportunity for local athletes to earn a slot at SAG
Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AASL), which was inaugurated in 1922, have failed to rake in a local sponsors for this year’s National Championships to be from August 16 to 18 at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.
However, the Asian Athletics Association has come forward to fund with USD 5,000 for this year’s local national meet, which is considered the ultimate Selection Trial for the forthcoming South Asian Games (SAG). The SAG will be held from December 1 to 10 in Kathmandu, Nepal later this year.
“We targeted three sponsors, but due to the prevailing economic situation in the country, they did not give us a favourable response. The AASL is indebted to the Asian body, who supported us by granting USD 5,000,” said Prema Pinnawala, Secretary of AASL.
The AASL has to forward the list of names to the National Selection Committee on time, by August 25 for the SAG.
A notable fact in this year's Nationals is the participation of female athletes at the three-day meet, which is lesser compared with the previous championships. A total of 486 male athletes have already applied while only 147 female athletes have forwarded their entries, according to AASL.
“As the SAG organisers decided to accept only one entry for each event, the female participation for the 97th National Meet has drastically dropped,” said G.L.S. Perera, the Vice President of AASL.
All top class national athletes including Hiruni Wijeratne, the IAAF qualified long distance runner, sprinter Himasha Eshan, who is very close to the IAAF timing of 10.15seconds, will take part, while Men's 400m runner Kalinga Kumarage will miss out.
In addition, two regular athletes of the Sri Lanka Women's 400m relay team will be not be participating, as they will be sitting at the ongoing G.C.E. Advanced Level examination.
The AASL expects a few Sri Lanka records in Women’s 3000m Steeple Chase event, which is very close to the IAAF qualification for Nilani Ratnayake.
“It’s a big challenge to every country this year as only one entry is available for each event at the SAG. So, we hope to select the best team out of these athletes hoping to win more medals than previous editions,” said SAG Team Manager, General Ravindra Mudalige.
“We have requested Nepal to allow us to arrive in Kathmandu a month before the SAG to prepare for the existing cool weather condition. So, we have to talk through the Defence Ministries of two countries,” added Major General Mudalige.
All national athletes are trained under a Cuban coach, with Head Coach Sunil Gunawardena observing the progress. For this year’s, SAG, the organisers will enroll only one athlete for each event. Sri Lanka’s athletic contingent will be restricted to 74 inclusive of the officials for the 10-day meet in Kathmandu.
A total of 673 athletes will be in action at the three-day national event, aiming a notable performance and a slot in the Sri Lanka team for SAG, at the only remaining opportunity.