Twelve athletes for Asian meet in Amman

By Leslie Fernando

ATHLETICS: Sri Lanka Athletic Association has selected a 12 member squad to represent Sri Lanka at the 17th Asian Athletic Championships conducted by the Asian Athletic Federation to be held from August 25 to 27 in Amman, Jordon.

According to a senior official of the SLAA, the team comprises eight men and four women athletes who were selected by the selection committee of the Sri Lanka Athletic Association. The names have been submitted to Sports Minister for approval.

Sri Lanka is billed to compete in nine events including 4 x 400 metres relay for men.

The 4 x 400 metres men relay 'quartet' will be picked after the final trial to be held on August 12. Already seven have been named for this event - Prasanna Amaraskera, Asoka Jayasundara, (both who will run in the 400 metres) S. M. Weerasuriya, Rohitha Pushpakumara, Dulan Priyasantha, Rohan Pradeep Kumara, Sumedha Ratnayake. Except for Prasanna and Asoka, the other five athletes' performances will be judged by the selectors before being included in the 4 x 400 metres relay.

Earlier this meet was to be held in Lebanon but the Asian Athletic Federation had to shift the venue to Jordon due to war situation in Lebanon. Athletes from 43 countries affiliated to the Asian Athletic Federation are expected to participate.

The last Asian Athletic Meet was held in Kuwait in 1983. So it is after 24 long years an Asian Athletic Championships will be held in a Middle East country.

Olympic medallist Susanthika Jayasinghe has been named as the overall captain of the Sri Lanka athletic team.

The men and women athletes selected and their events are:

Men: Umayanga Sanjeewa 100 metres, Prasanna Amarasekera and Asoka Jayasundara, 400 metres, Suresh Abeynayake 800 metres, Chamara Nuwan Gamage - Triple Jump, Prasanna Amaraskera, Asoka Jayasundara, S. M. Weerasuriya, Rohitha Pushpakumara, Dulan Priyasantha, Sumedha Ratnayake, Rohan Pradeep Kumara 4 x 400 metres relay (another trial is to be held to pick the relay 'quartet')

Women: Susanthika Jayasinghe and Sujani Buddhika - 100 and 200 metres, Jenitha Wickremasinghe - 400 metres, Nadeeka Lakmali - Javelin Throw.