Samarakoon impresses at Rifle Shooting trials

Army's M. Samarakoon fired an excellent 594 out of 600 points at the second of the three trials to pick the national pool in Rifle Shooting for the forthcoming South Asian Games.

This was at the National Shooting Championships which is now being worked off at the Army's Electronic Range at Panagoda.

Firing in the 3x40 three position event, Samarakoon, recorded a very good score of 1124 points to win the event and then went one better by winning the 60 shot Prone event as well with 587 points out of 600 in poor weather conditions. He did well in the first trial too.

E. M. Senanayake also of the Army broke a 15-year-old record in the men's Air Pistol event with a score of 579 out of 600 to better the record of 577 held b Gamini Walgama of STF.

Ruwini Abeymanne established a new Sri Lanka record in the women's Air Pistol event. Meanwhile, NRA successfully conducted an International Judges training course with the presentation of ISSF Diplomas of Honour with the successful candidates now issued with licenses by the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) based in Germany. It was conducted by India's A. J. Jalaludin and Colonel Jaswant Singh and 13 were successful.

Rohan Nanayakkara (National coach) almost achieved 100 percent marks in all disciplines to top the batch and will now have licenses in Rifle, Pistol, Shot Gun and Target Control. Among the others to do well were Dr. Asanga Balasuriya, Athula Jayawardene, Sampath Fernando, Major G. M. C. K. B. Ekanayake, Major D. M. D. Wijewickreme, Capt. G. K. S. Manatunga and Capt. C. P. Wijesinghe.

L.G.