Sri Lanka Athletics announces the fate of future events

While none of the athletes could reach tough qualifying standards for the quadrennial games in Tokyo on the wet weather hampered day, junior athlete Tharushi Karunaratne (881) reached qualifying standards for the World Under-20 Championships to be held in Nairobi.

by Reemus Fernando

Sri Lanka Athletics will conduct a special Selection Trial to choose athletes for the World Under-20 Championships to be held in Kenya in the event of the Junior Nationals being cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Sri Lanka Athletics reiterated yesterday that it will conduct the remaining events of the 99th National Championships after giving one month prior notice and will conduct a selection trial for juniors in July.

“We will conduct all remaining 29 events of the National Championship in three or four stages when normalcy returns,” Palitha Fernando, the president of Sri Lanka Athletics told The Island on Monday.

There was uncertainty regarding the disciplines which were not conducted during the first stage of the National Championship. The Sri Lanka Athletics had earlier scheduled the 99th National Championship to be conducted in four stages over four weekends starting from the May 22 and 23 weekend. The newly imposed travel restrictions due to the Covid 19 pandemic have made it impossible to conduct the events in the immediate future. When the sport’s governing body decides to conduct events the athletes will be given prior notice.

“As you are aware we have postponed the Junior National Championship due to the present pandemic situation. The fresh dates will be informed in due course and we will give minimum six weeks for preparation for athletes and coaches,” Fernando said.

The track and field governing body conducted the first stage of the 99th National Championship on Friday prioritizing Olympic targeted events. While none of the athletes could reach tough qualifying standards for the quadrennial games in Tokyo on the wet weather hampered day, junior athlete Tharushi Karunaratne reached qualifying standards for the World Under-20 Championships to be held in Nairobi.

So far three athletes have reached qualifying standards for the World Under-20 Championships. Holy Cross College, Gampaha athlete Shanika Lakshani and Ratnayake Central runner Karunaratne in the 800 metres and Asian Youth Championship medallist Isuru Kaushalya in the 400 metres have reached qualifying standards for the World Under-20 event.

Sri Lanka Athletics is looking forward to conduct the Junior Nationals Championship to give opportunities to those who have trained under trying circumstances due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

In the event of the Junior National Championship being cancelled, a Selection Trial will be held for a selected number of events.

“There are few athletes who are on the verge of qualifying standards for the Junior World event. In worst-case scenario a selection trial will be held for a selected number of events to pick a team,” said a senior official.