Sri Lankan athletes dazzle at Asian Youth Meet

Sri Lankan Youth Athletic Team

Thushari Abhisheka won gold for SL at an Asian Youth C’ships after 10 years 

By Susil Premalal

The Sri Lankan athletes, who performed exceptionally well at the Asian Youth Under-18 Championship, returned home yesterday after winning eight medals.
Organised by the Asian Athletics and Saudi Arabia Athletics Association, the meet was held in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, with the participation of more than 30 Asian countries.
The Sri Lankan squad, consisting of 19 athletes (12 boys and seven girls), won one gold, three silver and four bronze medals.
Sri Lanka’s previous best performances in an Asian Junior Meet were in 2015 (four medals), 2017 (two medals), 2019 (three medals), 2022 (five medals), and 2023 (four medals).
This year, Sri Lanka was ranked ninth in the overall medals tally. China won the most medals at the meet.
Meanwhile, Thushari Abhisheka of Wickramabahu National School, Gampola, won a gold medal for Sri Lanka at an Asian Youth Championships after 10 years, completing the Girls’ 800m event in 2:15.92s.
Yamani Dulanjalee won a gold medal for Sri Lanka at the Asian Youth Athletics Championships held in Doha, Qatar, in 2015, winning the Girls’ 400m hurdles with a time of 61.27s.

Sri Lanka’s performances at the Asian Youth Meet:

Gold medals:
Thushari Abhisheka (Wickramabahu NS, Gampola) – 800m Girls’ – 2:15.92

Silver medals:

Sewmini Fernando (Lyceum, Wattala) – 100m Girls’ – 11.92s
Janith Lakshan (St. Sylvester’s, Kandy) – triple jump Boys’ – 15.10m
Medley relay Women – 2:14.25s

Bronze medals:

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’ College, Ratnapura) – 1,500m Boys’ – 3:59.47s