Youth Sports Festival commences today 

The Athletics Championship of the 34th National Youth Sports Festival will commence at the Sugathadasas Stadium today. The final track and field competition of the year, the Youth Championship serves as a steppingstone for up and coming athletes to test their skills.

According to organizers the event attracts some 3,000 participants from all districts of the country. The competition will be held in the Under 20 and over 20 age categories with the lower age category attracting athletes from over 16 years of age.

The participants competing at this national competitions are the winners of their respective district championships which were held recently.

The championship winning district will receive a cash award of rupees 200,000.00 while the first and second runner up will be awarded rupees 150,000.00 and 100,000.00 respectively.

The best athletes in the men’s and women’s categories in both the Under 20 and over 20 age groups will be awarded rupees 250,000.00 each.

The athletes creating meet records during the three-day championship will also be rewarded with cash awards. Rupees 10,000.00 is awarded to a new meet record.

The Asian Games relay medallist Lakshima Mendis and Youth Championship 110 metres hurdles record holder B.A.S.K. Dias are scheduled to light the Olympic torch at the opening ceremony today where no athletics discipline will be held.

The event proper will commence on Friday where there will be card of 19 finals. It will conclude on Sunday.

The opening ceremony will be held under the patronage of Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, while Saman Ekanayake, Secretary to the President will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on Sunday. (RF)