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| Sunday, 4 July 2004 |
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I 'll qualify for Athens-Susanthika by Dinesh Weerawansa reporting from Philippines Manila, July 3 - Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe will begin her European Grand Prix circuit later next week. Before the Sri Lanka team's departure from the Phillipines after the Asian Grand Prix 2004, Jayasinghe said she should come good in Europe. The Lankan sprint queen is due to experience conditions in Athens just a month ahead of the Olympics. Jayasinghe is due to run in her first of the three IAAF ratified international Grand Prix Meets in Athens on July 10. She looked relatively relaxed though the Sydney Olympic bronze medallist has failed to reach the Olympic qualifying timing of 23.17 seconds in any of the three Asian Grand Prix meets in Songkla, Colombo and Manila. "I know where I stand. I don't care about what people say. I have time to qualify for the 200m at Olympics. I would do at the right time", a determined Jayasinghe said. Explaining the progress she has made after recovering from a hamstring injury, Jayasinghe said she has improved on her timing from 23.48 to 23.24 in her last four meets since South Asian Games. I have gradually gaining confidence and accelerating. I only expect to reach my peak by the Olympics, she said. The 28-year-old celebrated Lankan woman sprinter said even the other top sprinters in the world are not running their best. You take any top woman sprinters in the world. They are not running at their best by this time around. Because they know they have dime to peak and they focus their minds on Olympics. I am no exception and would gain power gradually by the time I reach Athens", she added. Relating similar experience in the past, Jayasinghe said she would fire at the right time. There was a similar situation like this even before the Olympics in 2000. But I ran in the European circuit and then clocked a career best timing at this time in Japan - just a week before the Sydney Games. Similarly, I would run in Europe this time around and chance the situation", she said. Jayasinghe added that her American coach Tony Campbell too has advised her not to be panic. He always says Susan (as he calls her) you have time. I will enter you to a couple of good Grand Prix meets and you could make it there,she explained. Jayasinghe said Campbell has initially arranged her to run in Athens next weekend and then would field her in a couple of more meets in Europe. However, Asian Games triple gold medallist, Damayanthi Darsha would not follow Jayasinghe in the European circuit. Instead, Darsha would train hard at home and focus her mind on Sri Lanka National Championships scheduled for shortly before the Olympics. "I know the things did not look that good at the Asian Grand Prix. But I will make my own progress. I would work hard and gradually gain speed. My target is the Olympics and I would work hard for that goal. Few weeks of hard and dedicated training should put me in good shape for the Olympics", said Darsha. |
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