AASL to add six more athletes for Asian Athletics C’ships

The Athletics Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) will add six more athletes to the original squad of 17 for next month’s Asian Athletics Championships following a request made by the Sports Ministry.

Sports Ministry sent names of six athletes for re-consideration to the AASL, after they (athletes) pleaded for their inclusion from the ministry.

“Our quota was 17 and we did the selections based on the trials held on May 9-10. Now we have a request from the ministry and I have forwarded their names to the selectors for reconsideration,” said athletics chief Sugath Thilakaratne.

Thilakaratne also said that the ministry has agreed to bear all expenses incurred in sending the six athletes in case the selectors give the green-light.

The 21st Asian Athletic Championships will be held in Wuhan, China from June 3 to 7.

The Director General of Sports Ruwan Chandra explained that they had not put any pressure on the Athletics Association to include the six athlete but only made a request. The six athletes are M.L.M Ashrof (4x100m), Shehan Ambepitiya (4x400m), A.R.M Rajasthan (4x100m), P.K.S Somawardena (1500m), Chaminda Wijekoon (5000m) and R.M.R Rathnayeka (100m hurdles)

SRI LANKA ATHLETIC TEAM MEN -

Himasha Eshan (100m), M.V.S De Silva (200m), Kalinga Kumarage (4x400m), Anjana Gunerathna (4x400m), H,M Dilip Kumara (400x4 m), Chanaka Jayasekara (400x4m), Nalin Gunerathna (400x4m), Indunil Herath (800m), K.P.H Nimali (400m hurdle), Manjula Kumara Wijesekara (high jump) and I.D.S.S Jayasinghe (triple jump)

WOMEN - Chandrika Subhashini Rasnayeka (400m), W.K.L.A Nimali (800m) Gayanthika Aberathna (800m), T.G.N.D Wickramasinghe (400m hurdles), Widusha Lakshani (triple jump) and Nadeeka Lakmali (javelin)

OFFICIALS - K.G Badra Gunewardena (manager), Chaminda Perera (coach), S.N. Abesekara (coach), Philip Ranjith Perera (jumping coach) and Pradeep Nishantha (throwing coach)