Sri Lanka to compete against USA, Jamaica in relay finals

SL to field biggest team at World Indoor Championships

Sri Lanka Athletics is set to field its biggest contingent to a World Indoor Athletics Championship this week after World Athletics extended an invitation to include men’s and women’s 4×400 metres relay teams for the global event starting in Nanjing, China on Friday.

Sprinter Kalinga Kumarage is set to lead a young group of sprinters for the 4×400 metres relay after World Athletics invited its affiliate to fill the vacume created by the absence of some sprint powerhouses in the two relays.

Sri Lanka Athletics has selected men’s and women’s teams for the 4×400 metres relays based on the performances at the second selection trial held early this month.

The absence of leading sprinter Aruna Dharshana and the shocking defeats to some of the Asian medallists at the selection trial have opened a great opportunity for junior sprinters at the global track and field event where they will brush shoulders against USA, Jamaica, Hungary, Nigeria and China in the final.

S.B.R. Madushan, Sadew Rajakaruna and Omel Shashintha will form the men’s 4×400 metres relay team with experienced campaigner Kumarage. Rakakaruna who created a new national junior record recently and Shashintha are both school athletes and the opportunity at a global event will augur well for the duo. The reserve in the men’s 4×400 metres team is Isuru Lakshan.

Dharshana is currently training and competing in Australia. According to Sri Lanka Athletics Dharshana is not available as he has decided to complete all his commitments in Australia before returning. His absence will hinder country’s chances of producing a top performance in Nanjing where the country has a chance of qualifying for the World Relays and the World Championships.

Asian medallist Nadeesha Ramanayake will form the women’s 4×400 metres team with young aspirants Nishendra Harshani, Sayuri Lakshima and Jayeshi Uththara. Jithmi Wijetunga is the reserve selected in the team.

The women’s team will vie against China, India, USA Australia and Poland.

Sri Lanka is represented by two other athletes at the World Indoor Championships. Hurdler Kaveesha Bandara, sprinter Chamod Yodasinghe and Kalinga Kumarage secured spots for individual events through World Athletics event rankings.

The final entry lists confirmed by World Athletics include 576 athletes from 127 countries. The 576 entries comprise 264 women and 312 men.

by Reemus Fernando