Chances of fielding a mixed relay team evaporates

Junior World Championship team pruned

By Reemus Fernando

Junior athletes who have already suffered setbacks due to cancelation of meets and postponements of international competitions are set to encounter further trouble as a number of athletes who have reached qualifying standards for the upcoming World Junior Championships face the axe due to the current economic crisis.Sri Lanka Athletics has dropped two athletes including Sithum Jayasundara who took part in the last World Junior Championships when the track and field governing body forwarded the names of the team for the World Junior Championships to request Sports Ministry assistance for their trip to Cali, Colombia in August.

At a time when senior athletes find it difficult to reach qualifying standards for the World Championships, some nine juniors reached qualifying standards for the World Junior Championships.It was a practice of Sri Lanka Athletics to send all athletes who reach qualifying standards for World Junior Championships as it provides impetus for juniors to remain in the sport.

The heavy cost involved in sending the team to Cali has made Sri Lanka Athletics reduce the number in the team from nine to seven and sources said that the Sports Ministry too could further prune down the team due to financial constrains.

Sri Lanka Athletics has sent the names of St. Joseph’s College triple jumper Pasindu Malshan, St. Peter’s athletes Hirusha Hashen (long jump) and Rumesh Tharuka (javelin), Ambagamuwa Central hurdler Dhanuka Dharshan, Royal College hurdler Nadun Bandara, Girls His School hurdler Amesha Hettiarachchi, Ratnayake Central Walala runner Tharushi Karunarante to request Sports Ministry approval and financial assistance.

Jayeshi Uththara who reached qualifying standards for the 400 metres is the other athlete who has been dropped from the team.By dropping Uththara and Jayasundara the team will miss the opportunity of fielding a mixed relay team. It was in the mixed relay that the Sri Lanka team produced their best result at the last edition.Tharushi Karunaratne who featured in the mixed relay final at the last edition making it to the team this time as well Sri Lanka were in with a chance to produce a better show in that event.