National Youth Games: Kandy win overall title dethroning Gampaha

Bikes for best athletes Sauri Mendis (women) and KAP Malshan (men)

By Susil Premalal

Athletes from the Kandy district created history by winning the overall championship at the 35th National Youth Games for the first time, ending Gampaha district’s long-standing dominance at the prestigious national event.
The National Youth Games, conducted by the National Youth Services Council (NYSC), were held at the Diyagama Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex and featured competitors aged between 15 and 29 years.
Kandy athletes secured the overall title with an impressive total of 174 points, a landmark achievement considering that Gampaha district had won the overall championship on eight consecutive occasions in the tournament’s history. 
Defending champions Gampaha were relegated to second place this year with 136 points, while Colombo district finished third with 88 points.
The Games also recognised outstanding individual performances with KAP Malshan of Gampaha district named the Best Male Athlete after producing a remarkable leap of 16.11 metres in the men’s triple jump. 
The Best Female Athlete award went to Sauri Mendis of Gampaha district, who clocked an outstanding 54.12 seconds to win the women’s 400 metres final. Both athletes were rewarded with motorcycles in recognition of their achievements.
In addition, the athletes produced seven new meet records during the competition. To encourage excellence, the NYSC awarded Rs. 10,000 for each new record 
set at the Games.
The new records were set by men’s athletes Shivakumar Piragas (Jaffna) in the javelin throw with a distance of 46.52m; KAP Malshan (Gampaha) in the triple jump with 16.11m and Isuru Lakshan (Urban Youth) in the 400m with a time of 46.67 seconds. In the women’s segment records were set by Jithma Shenali (Gampaha) in the 200m with 24.56 seconds, Nethmika Madhushani (Moneragala) in the triple jump with 12.94m, Sauri Mendis (Gampaha) in the 400m with 54.12 seconds and the Gampaha women’s 4x400m relay team comprising Shehara Karunarathne, Jithma Shenali, Dilhara Nethmini and Sauri Mendis.
The historic triumph by Kandy marked a major shift in the balance of potential at the National Youth Games and highlighted the rising standard of youth athletics 
across the country.