“SL lost a SAG Gold Medal because he crossed my game plan” - Ratnayake

“Because one rider jumped my game plan, we lost a Gold Medal at the 13th South Asian Games Cycling Event”, said Upali Ratnayake, National Coach, Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka (CFSL).

“This incident took place at the 100 km Men’s Road Race where this rider was selfish for the Gold Medal and jumped from the bunch and started competing with Indian riders. I have submitted a report regarding this to the Cycling Federation,” he said.

This time at the SAG, Sri Lanka was unable to win a single Gold Medal. They only managed to win two Silver and four Bronze. Nepal won ten Medals including four Gold, four Silver and two Bronze, India fell behind and were placed second winning eight Medals including four Gold, two Silver and two Bronze.

At the 2016 SAG edition India bagged 13 medals – six Gold, five Silver and two Bronze while Sri Lanka were the runners-up with two Gold, two Silver and three Bronze medals. The Gold medals Sri Lanka won were by Jeevan Jayasinghe. They

This incident took place at the 100 km Men’s Road Race where this rider was selfish for the Gold Medal

were in the 60 km Criterium and the 100 Km Road Race.

Sri Lanka entered an eightmember team in cycling this time where Prabash Madusanka Silva and Chamod Silva won Silver and Bronze at the men’s Road Race.

Sulochana Panchali won the Bronze Medal in the women’s Road event. In the individual Time Trial, Dinesha Dilrukshi won Silver while Udeshini Kumarasinghe won Bronze.

“At the SAG this time, the 60 km Criterium Men’s event was not included and we lost a potential Gold Medal which we could have won. If we are to go ahead in cycling, a long term plan is required for Sri Lanka and the CFSL administration must be made aware of this,” concluded Ratnayake.