SA Junior Athletic Meet Nov. 8 and 9

By Leslie Fernando

Athletics: For the first time South Asian Junior Track and Field Championships will be held on November 8 and 9.

The International Athletic Federation has recommended and granted permission to held this event in Colombo.

Derwin Perera, President Sri Lanka Athletic Federation said that, this will be similiar to the South Asian Games and it will be staged according to rules and regulations of the South Asian Games. The South Asian Junior Athletic Championships will be held one in two years in the respective countries. The age group will be under 20 for both boys and girls. The competitors from eight countries Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Maldives and Bhutan will participate.

The decision to organise this first ever South Asian Junior Track and Field Championships was discussed at the special meeting of the International Athletic Federation held in Koyto, Japan recently, said Perera.

At the IAF meeting, the views of all officials from the South Asian countries were sought.

Sri Lanka got the nod to hold the first meet as Sri Lanka had successfully conducted the 10th South Asian Games in August last year.