Nayana praises Miranda after guiding Carrim to record breaking performances

by Reemus Fernando  

Long jumper Razwin Carrim of Lyceum International, Panadura will make Sri Lanka’s debut in the boys’ long jump at the Asian Youth Athletics Championships which will commence in Kuwait on October 13. The athlete trained by former national athlete Nayana Prasad has performed well during recent championships. His latest achievement was winning the Under 18 boys’ long jump at the Western Province Schools Athletics Championships which concluded at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Wednesday.

Last month, Carrim reached Sri Lanka Athletics set qualifying standards for the biennial event when he won the event at the Sir John Tarbat Senior Athletics Championships with a record-breaking performance at Diyagama. He cleared a distance of 7.20 metres to a tail wind (+0.9) as he broke the 2016 meet record (7.17m) held by Isuru Malinda of Richmond.

“I have been coaching him since he was 13. His participation at the Asian Youth Athletics Championships will augur well for the athlete and his fellow training partners who too have done well at schools circuit,” said Nayana in an interview with The Island.

Good Shepherd Convent, Panadura athlete Harini Adithya, who won the Under 18 girls’ long jump at the Western Province Athletics Championships and St. Peter’s jumper Thevindu Sandil, the winner of the Under 16 boys’ long jump at the same meet are among a host of budding athletes training under Nayana, who is based in Panadura. Commenting on the success of his charges Nayana said that the knowledge he gained while working with Cuban coach Luis Miranda has helped his athletes do well.

“I am following the coaching methods of Miranda. Sri Lanka owes a great deal of her success in the jumping events in recent years to the expertise of Miranda. I was lucky to have worked with him,” said Nayana who is determined to guide the next generation of jumpers to top national level.

Nayana, who retired from athletics in 2013 was an assistant to Miranda from 2014 until the Sports Ministry decided to terminate the Cuban’s stint early this year. Despite not receiving an extension to his contract, Miranda continued to train top national athletes for months free of charge before leaving for Cuba. He has returned to Sri Lanka on his own recently to continue the good work and Nayana believes that his expertise will be of immense value to athletes yearning for success.