Sri Lanka Athletic Team off to South Korea

By Susil Premalal

The Sri Lanka Senior Athletic Team will depart for South Korea today to participate in the 26th Asian Senior Athletic Championship, which will be held in Gumi, South Korea from May 27 to 31. 

43 Asian countries will participate in this meet, which will be organised by the Asian Athletic (AA) and Athletic Association of South Korea (AASK).  

“This year, almost every country in the Asian region has fielded strong teams. Several strong players in the Sri Lankan team have suffered various injuries and are now in good condition. Therefore, it is impossible to draw a pre-conclusion about the number of medals that Sri Lanka can win this year, as in other years,” Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) President Major General (Retired) Palitha Fernando said yesterday.

At the 2023 Bangkok Asian Championships, Sri Lanka won eight medals, which included three gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze medals.

The Sri Lankan Team consists of 13 male and seven female athletes. In addition, the team also includes a manager, four coaches and two medical assistants.

The Sri Lanka Athletic Squad: Men’s: Yupun Abeykoon (100m, 200m and 4X100m), Chamod Yodasinghe (100m, and 4X100m), Deneth Weeraratne (4X100m), Merone Wijesinghe (4X100m), H. D. M. C. B. Dissanayake (4X100m), Kalinga Kumarage (Men’s 4X400m and Mixed Relay), Aruna Dharshana (Men’s 4X400m and Mixed Relay), Sadew Rajakaruna (4X400m), Omel Shashintha (4X400m), Kalhara Indupa (4X400m), Sumeda Ranasinghe (javelin), Rumesh Tharanga (javelin), Lesandu Arthavidu (high jump). Women’s: Nadeesha Ramanayake (400m, 4X400m and Mixed Relay), Sayuri Lakshima (4X400m), Nishendra Fernando (4X400m), Jayeshi Uththara (4X400m), Jithma Wijetunga (4X400m), Dilhani Lekamge (javelin), Rasara Wijesuriya (5,000m and 10,000m). Officials: Manager and Lady Chaperon: Irangani Rupasingha, Coaches: I. M. Ranasingha, Lal Wijewickama, Tony Prasanna, Claudio Licciardello, Physiotherapy: Galderisi Gatteo, Masseur: Jagath Bandara.