Sports

Lack of support for nutritional needs will hold back marathoners – Sajith Jalayal

Published

3 years ago

2022/01/26

By Reemus Fernando

Sajith Jayalal, the coach of leading long-distancerunners and marathoners said that lack of support to obtain nutritional needs will continue to hold the progress of marathoners in Sri Lanka. He said this in an interview with The Island after the hosts failed to challenge the Indian supremacy at the Sri Lanka Athletics’ centenary half marathon held on Saturday.

Sri Lanka Athletics conducted a half marathon on Saturday to commence its centenary year celebrations. The grueling road event which started and concluded at Diyatha Uyana saw a number of runners from the South Asian region taking part. While India dominated the race winning both the men’s and women’s titles, the local athletes had to settle for lesser laurels.

“It is nothing but the nutritional factor that keeps our marathoners from winning at regional level. For energy sapping events like the marathon and half marathon you need to train hard to be competitive and those training regiments should be compensated with proper nutrition,” said Jayalal who is also the director of the National Institute of Sports Science.

“We must maintain a pool of athletes for marathon. They should be provided with proper nutrition if they are to succeed at international level,” said Jayalal whose charges were the top performers among local athletes at the road race held on Saturday.

While his charge Shanmugeshwaran was placed third behind two Indian athletes in the men’s half marathon, Piyumali Perera finished second behind India’s Sanjivani Yadhew in the women’s event.

Incidentally, it was under Jayalal’s guidance that Sri Lanka fielded its first female marathoner at Olympics in 2016. But after Geethani Rajasekara’s retirement, the US based Hiruni Wijeratne has been the country’s front runner in the women’s marathon. Local marathoners are yet to reach the standard maintained by the likes of Rajasekara.

Though Sri Lanka has won a couple of marathon events at the South Asian Games including Wijeratne’s gold winning feat at the last edition, India continue to reign supreme in the region. Sri Lanka has not won a men’s marathon at the South Asian Games since 2006.

The country is also lagging behind in the region with regard to nurturing a marathon running culture. While India conducts a number of International top label marathons on its soil, Sri Lanka’s only recognized international marathon, the Colombo Marathon was not held last year.

The National Sports Festival marathon and the Youth Sports Festival marathon are the only marathons available for local runners.

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Sports

Mandhana’s masterclass powers India to tri-series title

Published

2 hours ago

2025/05/12

Thilina Walpola

Smriti Mandhana

India capped off a dominant tri-series campaign in Colombo with a resounding win over Sri Lanka, posting their highest-ever women’s ODI total on Sri Lankan soil—344 for five —before bowling the hosts out for 245.

Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a superb 11th ODI hundred—her first against Sri Lanka—anchoring partnerships of 70 with Pratika Rawal and 120 with Harleen Deol.

Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues chipped in with brisk 40s, while India smashed 90 runs in the last 10 overs.

Despite a spirited effort, Sri Lanka’s daunting chase faltered. Chamari Atapattu’s 50 and a few half-century stands weren’t enough to close the gap. Seamer Amanjot Kaur struck early, removing two of the top three, while offspinner Sneh Rana starred with four for 38, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.

India’s batting wasn’t without drama—Rawal survived an early chance, and Mandhana was twice let off before unleashing her full range of strokes. She was especially brutal on Atapattu, sweeping her repeatedly through square leg and cover en route to a 92-ball century.

Amanjot’s return in the middle overs derailed the chase further, bowling Gunaratne and setting up Rana’s match-turning spell. Atapattu, despite reaching her 19th ODI fifty, was undone by Rana, who later removed three more to slam the door shut.

Late resistance from Sanjeewani and Kumari delayed the inevitable, but a run-out and two quick Rana strikes wrapped up the win.

India’s comprehensive display sent a strong message ahead of the Women’s World Cup, reaffirming their title credentials.

Brief scores:

India

342 for seven (Mandhana 116, Rodrigues 44, Kumari 2-59) beat Sri Lanka 245 (Atapattu 51, Rana 4-38, Amanjot 3-54) by 97 runs.

Sports

110th Colombo Championships Apna, Dinara win singles titles

Published

3 hours ago

2025/05/12

Thilina Walpola

Apna Perera and Dinara de Silvaemerged as the men’s and women’s singles champions respectively at the 110th Colombo Championships continued at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts.

In the men’s singles final, Apna beat Ashen Silva 7-6, 6-1. Dinara registered convincing 6-1, 6-2 win over Venuli Jayasinghe in the women’s final.

In the boys’ Under 18 semi-finals, Ashlin de Silva beat Nethmika Wickramasinghe 6-2, 6-1 while Mayooran Kubheran beat Aahil Kaleel 6-7, 7-6, 6-4.

Sports

Yodasinghe dazzles in Yupun’s return

Published

3 hours ago

2025/05/12

Thilina Walpola

Chamod Yodasinghe dazzled with a 10.27 seconds performance in Dubai.

National champion Chamod Yodasinghe secured a creditable second place rank for an impressive performace of 10.27 seconds as he out did a strong field in the 100 metres at the Dubai Grand Prix on Friday.

Yodasinghe who was entered only for the 4x100m relay received a golden opportunity in Dubai when his request to run the 100 metres there was granted by the organisers. The athlete trained by sprint coach Sanjeewa Weerakkody equalled his personal best (10.27 seconds) in winning his race.

Incidentally, his winning time was second only to the winner of the first race where top ranked athletes including Yupun Abeykoon competed.

Oman’s Ali Al Balooshi was the fastest as he clocked 10.19 seconds while Abeykoon finished fifth with a time of 10.39 seconds.

Abeykoon who was making his first 100 metres appearance of the year was ranked sixth overall.

In the 4×100 metres relay Sri Lanka’s quartet finished third in a time of 39.41 seconds.

Yodasinghe will next compete at the Asian Athletics Championships later this month.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s 4×400 metres mixed relay team finished last in their heat at the World Relays in China yesterday.

by Reemus Fernando