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| Sunday, 16 June 2002 |
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Highjumper Manjula Kumara performed best at trial by LESLIE FERNANDO Schoolboy highjumper W. P. Manjula Kumara of Dickwella Vijitha MV who represented Matara District AAA performed the best when he cleared 2.10 metres in the men's open high jump event at the first national trial at Torrington grounds in Colombo yesterday to pick athletes for the 14th Asian Athletic Championships to be held from 9 to 12 August in Colombo. Manjula who participated at the Chinese Taipei Open Athletic Championships recently, cleared 2.10 metres in his third attempt and immediately tried to go over the bar at 2.17 metres hoping to erase off the Sri Lanka record of 2.16 metres held by Rangana Pigera (2.16 metres), but he was unsuccessful because he was using the grass track. Had he jumped on an artificial track, he would have establish a new record according to veteran athletes who officiated at this meet. He should now begin training on a artificial track. It is up to the AAA to look into this aspect as he is one of our future prospects. Former Sri Lanka and Asian Games champion highjumper Nagalingam Ethiriveerasingham too was expressed by the performance of Manjula Kumara and said that if Kumara is guided on the correct lines he will be a good prospect for the future. Capt Shemal Fernando, the vice president, AAA and Chairman competition committee said that the athletes who fared prominently at this trial will be included to a pool until the National Athletic Championships (the final trial) to be held from July 17 to 20 at the Sugathadasa Stadium. The athletes selected from yesterday's trial will compete with the elite Sri Lanka athletes who are presently in training in Singapore and Thailand. Captain Shemal Fernando added that as the host nation, Sri Lanka is entitled to field three competitors for all events at the Asian Athletic Championships. |
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