Akalanka, Nilupul win Commonwealth Youth Games medals  

By Reemus Fernando  

Hurdler Ayomal Akalanka and high jumper Nilupul Thejana won the silver and bronze medals respectively of their pet events at the Commonwealth Youth Games as Sri Lanka’s track and field team beat heavy odds to complete yet another successful campaign overseas.

Track and field continued to be the country’s shining jewel in the crown of Olympic sports as the team fielded by Sri Lanka Athletics won two medals.

The Ambagamuwa Central hurdler Akalanka clocked 51.61 seconds to finish second behind Jamaican athlete DZA Wright in the 400 metres hurdles final at the multi sports event taking place in Trinidad and Tobago.

Vijitha Central, Dickwella athlete Thejana cleared a height of 2.00 metres to win the bronze medal of the high jump event.  It was a huge victory for the track and field sports as the young athletes traveled without the team officials due to denial of visas.

Akalanka’s coach Anura Bandara was schedule to accompany the team as coach cum manager but the National Olympic Committee failed to obtain visas for the team to transit in Amsterdam. The athletes were later helped by Sri Lanka Athletics to obtain US visas. However the young athletes were left without a single official to accompany them after US authorities denied visas for the officials to transit.

Sri Lanka Athletics fielded a team of three boys and two girls for the event. Of them Shalani Hansika Munasighe, who was the other athlete from Ambagamuwa Central had to compete in her first event (long jump) within hours after landing in Trinidad and Tobago. She was placed fourth in the women’s 400 metres hurdles later.

D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo athlete Lesandu Arthavidu finished fourth with a feat of  1.95m metres in the high jump.  At the end of the penultimate day of the event Sri Lanka’s two medals had placed the team in the 18th place level with India.

Silver medal winner Ayomal Akalanka with coach Anura Bandara.