Sri Lanka Athletics to stage South Asian Junior Championships to boost junior structure  

by Reemus Fernando  

Sri Lanka Athletics has set up a plan similar to that of the 2018 strategy to succeed at Asian Junior Championships in the governing body’s centenary year in 2022. In a busy year inclusive of a Junior World Championship, Asian Youth and Asian Junior Championships and an Asian Youth Games, Sri Lanka Athletics will play host to the South Asian Junior Athletics Championships in a bid boost junior structure.

Sri Lanka played host to the 2018 edition of the South Asian Junior Championships ahead of the Asian Junior Championships. After gaining a morale boost on the back of some impressive performances Sri Lanka reaped a rich haul of medals at the Asian Junior Championships in Jifu Japan in 2018. The most stunning performance was the record breaking 45.79 seconds finish by Aruna Dharshana in the 400 metres.

Sri Lanka won nine medals including three golds and four silvers at the Asian Junior Championships in 2018. Some of the juniors who excelled at that edition are now dominating at national level.

“We will host the South Asian Junior Athletics Championships here in Sri Lanka. That will be a boost for junior athletics,” Meg. Gen. Palitha Fernando, the president of Sri Lanka Athletics told The Island on Monday.

Senior officials of Sri Lanka Athletics said that the South Asian Junior Championships will be held on May 19 and 20 either at the Sugathadasa Stadium or at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium.

The Junior National Championships which is scheduled from May 9 to 11 will be the final selection opportunity for the South Asian Junior Championships.

“The first selection trial for the event will be held on February 12 and 13 simultaneously with the Youth Trial for the Asian Youth Championships,” Saman Kumara, the statistician of Sri Lanka Athletics said. Asian Youth Championships will be held from March 1-4 in Kuwait.

While the Asian Junior Championships will be held from June 16 -19 in South Korea the World Junior Championships will be staged in Cali, Colombia from August 2-7.

Sri Lanka Athletics decision to conduct the South Asian Junior Championships comes as a huge motivation for junior athletes to engage in track and field sport after spending more than two years without local schools competitions.

Sri Lanka Athletics conducted several junior events this year but set qualifying standards in a bid to limit participation due to Covid 19 pandemic. Despite limited opportunities junior athletes showed promise at those competitions.