Sri Lanka Athletics has named the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games teams who have reached the qualification standards during the trial season. 8 athletes will take part in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games while 21 athletes will take part in the Asian Games held later in China.
All the competitors except for Hiruni Wijayarathne (Marathon) who are taking part in the Commonwealth Games, will take part in the Asian Games as well. Yupun Abeykoon clocked 15.16 seconds for 150m yesterday and broke the Asian record for the event.
Yupun, Hiruni and Ushan Thiwanka have been training overseas. Ushan was the national champion in NCAA Division II for high jump and also renewed the Sri Lanka record. Gayanthika, Sarangi and Nilani are all in terrific form as they recently renewed the national records at the 100th National Athletics Championship.
Sumedha Ranasinghe was recently awarded the best overall athlete at the athletics championship and qualifies for both competitions. Dhanushka Sandaruwan is another overseas athlete who recently broke the indoor long jump record but will only compete in the Asian Games.
Many other young and promising athletes have achieved the qualification and will be taking the leap from Under 20 championship to a big stage like the Asian Games. The full team is listed below.
Commonwealth Games
Men-
Sumedha Ranasinghe (Javelin Throw)
Kalinga Kumara (400m)
Yupun Abeykoon (100m)
Ushan Thiwanka (High Jump)
Women –
Nilani Rathnayaka (3000m Steeplechase)
Gayanthika Abeyrathne (800m, 1500m)
Sarangi Silva (Long Jump)
Hiruni Wijayarathne (Marathon)
Asian Games
Men-
Sumedha Ranasinghe (Javelin Throw)
Kalinga Kumara (400m, 4x400m, 4x400m Mix)
Yupun Abeykoon (100m)
Ushan Thiwanka (High Jump)
Roshan Ranathunga (110m Hurdles)
Chamal Kumarasiri (Triple Jump)
Danushka Sandaruwan (Long Jump)
Aruna Darshana (4x400m, 4x400m Mix)
Isuru Lakshan (4x400m)
Pabasara Niku (4x400m)
V. Deshan (4x400m)
Women-
Nilani Rathnayaka (3000m Steeplechase)
Gayanthika Abeyrathne (800m, 1500m)
Sarangi Silva (Long Jump)
Tharushi Karunarathne (4x400m Mix)
Nadeesha Ramanayaka (4×400 Mix)
Amasha de Silva (100m, 4x100m)
Rumeshika Rathnayaka (4x100m)
Shelinda Jansen (4x100m)
Medhani Jayamanne (4x100m)
Lakshika Sugandhi (4x100m)
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