Four relay teams in Sri Lanka junior athletics contingent

Sri Lanka will rely on their juniors to emulate the success of their senior relay team when the track and field governing body fields a 17-member team inclusive of four relay teams for the Asian Junior Athletics Championship which commences in Dubai on Wednesday.

The team captained by Ananda College sprinter Merone Wijesinghe and Nannapurawa MV jumper Madushani Herath left for Dubai yesterday.

Currently Sri Lanka is ranked 16thin the ‘Road to Olympics’ rankings in the men’s 4×400 metres relay. That position does not guaranty their ticket to Olympics. But the remarkable achievement has ignited interest among juniors. Sri Lanka Athletics has included a men’s 4×100 metres, men’s 4×400 metres, women’s 4×400 metres and a 4×400 metres mix relay teams which boost the interest created by the current senior team (men’s 4x400metres).

Sri Lanka did well at the last Asian Junior Championships with Asian Games medlallist Tharushi Karunaratne making her first major breakthrough at these championships. Tharushi Abisheka the youngest member in the current team is expected to emulate Karunaratne’s achievement when she competes in the 800 metres. Abisheka and Madhushani Herath who will compete in both the long jump and the triple jump are the only women’s athletes taking part in individual events.

Women’s team: Madhushani Herath (Captain – Long Jump, Triple Jump), Tharushi Abisheka (800m), Maheema Pravindi (4x400m, 4x400m mixed), Jithma Wijethunga (4x400m, 4x400m mixed), Charuni Pramudhika (4x400m), Nuhansa Kodituwakku (4x400m, 4x400m mixed).

Men’s team: Merone Wijesinghe (Captain – 100m, 4x100m (M), R.I. Vidhushan (4x100m), Dineth Weerarathna (4x100m), Malith K. Thamel (4x100m), Tharusha Mendis (High Jump), Dineth Anuhas (High Jump), Hasindu Nethsara (4x400m, 4x400m mixed), Shashintha Silva (4x400m), Ayomal Akalanka (400m Hurdles), Jathya Kirulu (4x400m, 4x400m mixed), Avishka Rajapaksha (4x400m, 4x400m mixed).