Over 3,000 athletes for junior nationals

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka Athletic (SLA) will accept entries for the junior national athletic championships until June 4.

This meet is scheduled to be held on June 13, 14 and 15 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama.
The meet will be held under four age groups (Under-16, Under-18, Under-20 and Under-23).

Over 3,000 athletes are set to submit their entries, SLA secretary Saman Kumara Gunawardana told the Daily Mirror yesterday.

Meanwhile, SLA has decided to field about 10-12 athletes for the upcoming third Asian Youth Games (AYG), 2025.
The AYG 2025 is scheduled to be held in Bahrain from October 22-31.

Although the National Olympic Community of Sri Lanka has requested to nominate only six athletes for the AYG, SLA authorities have informed the NOCSL to increase the participation of Sri Lankan athletes as the island nation won eight medals at the recent Asian Youth Athletics Championship.

Sri Lanka’s performances at the Asian Youth Meet: (Gold medals 1): Thushari Abhisheka (Wickramabahu NS, Gampola) 800m Girls’ - 2:15.92s. (Silver medals 3): Sewmini Fernando (Lyceum, Wattala) - 100m Girls’ 11.92s. Janith Lakshan (St. Sylvester’s, Kandy) - triple jump Boys’ - 15.10m. Medley relay Women’s 2:14.25s. (Bronze medals 4): Dilki Nehara (Sri Sumangala Balika, Panadura) - triple jump Girls’ - 12.35m. Pavan Nethya (Maris Stella, Negombo) - high jump Boys’ 2.03m. Savindu Avishka (Dhammissara NS, Nattandiya) 800m Boys’ - 1:53.41s. Lahiru Achintha (St. Aloysius’, Ratnapura) – 1,500m Boys’ - 3:5947s.