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36th National Sports Festival:
Bandara, Lakshan Priyadharshani win gold
By Chris DAMBARAGE in Kandy
GAMES: Veteran long distance runner Ajith Bandara and national
athlete N.C.D. Priyadarshani gave a flying start to the 36th National
Sports Festival with two splendid performances at the Bogambara Stadium
in Kandy yesterday.
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The winner of the men’s 10,000 metres final Ajith Bandara
(315) leading from the front on the opening day of the 36th
National Sports Festival which began at the Bogambara
Stadium in Kandy. |
Bandara representing the North Western Province lived upto
expectations as he cruised to a convincing victory in the men’s 10,000
metres final and to clinch the first gold medal at the Games.
Bandara clocked a pleasing 32.01.82 seconds although he had earlier
returned a personal best of 32.21.5 seconds. He was followed by K.G.R.
Samankumara (Uva) and Sujith Kumara (Central) in the second and third
place respectively.
Meanwhile another national athlete N.C.D. Priyadarshani from the
Western Province also came out with a magnificent performance to win the
gold medal in the women’s triple jump event with an effort of 12.50
metres.
Priyadarshani who also holds the Sri Lanka record for an effort of
13.15 metres last year faced little opposition from the rest of the
opponents and went on to produce a repeat performance. In fact her
closest rival and the runner up R. Subasinghe from the Southern Province
managed only 12.44 metres while D.C.A. Dahanayake from Western Province
was placed third with a performance of 12.01 metres.
The third gold medal on the opening day of the track and field events
went to R.P.W. Lakshan of North Western Province for an effort of 66.74
metres in the men’s javelin throw.
The National Sports Festival was declared opened by the Prime
Minister D.M. Jayaratne after the traditional Olympic Torch was lit by
two celebrated athletes Anuruddha Ratnayake of boxing fame and shuttler
Thilini Jayasinghe both hailing from the hill capital.
The results:
10,000 metres (Men): 1. Ajith Bandara (North Western Province)
32.01.82 sec, 2. K.G.R. Samankumara (Uva) 32.07.59 sec, 3. Sujith Kumara
(Central) 32.09.26.
Triple jump (Women): 1. N.C.D. Priyadarshani (Western Province) 12.50
metres, 2. R. Subasinghe (Southern Province) 12.44 metres, 3. D.C.A.
Dahanayake (Western Province) 12.01 metres.
Javelin throw (Men): 1. R.P.W. Lakshan (North Western Province) 66.74
metres, 2. K.G.R. Chaturanga (Central Province) 62.31 metres, 3. D.G.S.
Ranasinghe (Southern Province) 62.23 metres.
FIAT car for Sports Star
GAMES: FIAT Sri Lanka the Sri Lankan partner of Italy’s largest car
manufacturer Fiat has stepped forward to sponsor the Sportsman of the
Year at the 36th National Sports Festival which commenced at the
Bogambara Stadium in Kandy yesterday. Having continuously sponsored many
global sporting events this will be the first time that Fiat Sri Lanka
will be associated with at a national sporting event of this calibre.
The winner who will be adjudged as the Sportsman of the Year will be
presented with one of the latest models in the Fiat automobile series.
(C.D.)
Thirteen finals today
ATHLETICS: A total of thirteen finals will be worked off on the
second day of the track and field events in the 36th National Sports
Festival at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy today (Sunday).
The athletic events will start with the women’s 5000 metres final at
7.30 a.m. and will conclude with the men’s 4X100 metres relay final.
The cynosure of all eyes will be on Asian Games bound athlete Manjula
Kumara from Southern Province who will be hoping to stamp his class in
the men’s high jump event which is scheduled for 8.00 a.m. In addition
N.C.D. Priyadarshani from Western Province will be looking to complete a
fine double when she competes in the women’s long jump event at 9.00 am.
(C.D.)
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