by Reemus Fernando

The Athletics Association of Sri Lanka confirmed dates for the pandemic hampered competitions for the year 2020 as Gnanam Foundation, an NGO, pledged financial support for the country’s premier Olympic sport which was struggling without a strong sponsor during the last few years.

AASL was planning to conduct several selection events to form training pools ahead of a packed international calender when the covid 19 pandemic derailed their plans in March.

Although most of the leading athletes have commenced training the much needed competitions remained doubtful due to prevailing health risks.

The AASL said that a selection trial, the first competition since March, will be held from October 23 to 25 at the Sugathadasa Stadium, while the National Championship has been scheduled for December for the Olympic hopefuls to improve their World Athletics rankings and to attempt qualifying standards for the postponed Tokyo event which will be held in July and August in 2021.

While the selection trial will be an open event, the National Championship in December will be for the highest ranked athletes.

“Only those who perform well during the trial meet will be eligible to compete at the National Championship, Major General (rtd.) Palitha Fernando, the president of the AASL told media at the briefing to announce the Gnanam Foundation’s sponsorship on Wednesday.

He said that the dates for the Junior National Championship will be finalised after taking in to consideration the scheduling of the O/L exam. The Ministry of Education has restricted sports participation of school athletes during the second term.

Gnanam Foundation has granted rupees ten million which will be utilized to athletes’ development and equipment and kits.

Fernando who has long been advocating the importance of foreign expertise to train local athletes said that the AASL is planing to obtain the services of Finland throwing coach Petteri Piironen to train local throwers. Piironen trained Sachith Maduranga and Nadeeka Lakmali before they won medals at Asian Athletics Championships.

At present some of country’s leading athletes are trained by Cuban coaches Luis Miranda (jumps) and Sergio Manuel Rodrigues (sprints) and Kenyan long distance coach Dan Muchoki.