Susanthika - the star attraction at National Sports Festival
By Leslie Fernando
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All eyes on her.... Susanthika Jayasinghe is expected to be the
star athlete in the track events at the National Sports Festival
that starts today at the Sugathadasa stadium.
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SPORTS FESTIVAL: Susanthika Jayasinghe will be the main draw and will
run in her two pet events 100 and 200 metres at the 33rd National Sports
Festival 2007 to be held from today to Tuesday at the Sugathadasa
Stadium. Susanthika will be running for Sabaragamuwa Province.
In addition to athletics, 12 more disciplines will be worked off at
different venues in Colombo. The annual event is organised by the
Ministry of Sports and Public Recreation.
The Sports Festival was earlier scheduled to be held at the D. R.
Rajapakse Stadium in Beliatta, but due to bad weather for the past
couple of weeks, the organisers were compelled to shift the venue to
Colombo according to Kapila Bamunuarachchi, Media Secretary, Ministry of
Sports and Public Recreation.
In addition to Susanthika, the other elite athletes in the fray are
H. J. C. C. Silva in the 100 metres women, P. D. M. P. Wickremasinghe
women's 400 metres, J. H. T. S. Jayasekera in the women's 500 metres,
Dulanjalee Ranasinghe, women's high jump, Nilanka Sajeewani in the
women's 800 metres.
In the men's events, Ruwan Pradeep Perera the champion Pole Vaulter,
Asoka Jayasundara in the 400 metres hurdles, R. M. Pushpakumara in
10,000 metres, N. C. D. Priyadarshana in long jump, Thushara Sampath in
shot putt, Ruwan Pradeep Kumara in the 400 metres, Prasanna Amarasekera
200 metres, Asela Bandara in 5,000 metres, R. D. U. S. Surendra in the
100 and 200 metres dash.
The other disciplines - Basketball will be at M. C. A. at Wijerama
Mawatha and St. Joseph's BV, Nugegoda, Weight lifting and Body Building
at Kelaniya University, Judo at Judo Headquarters at Bloemendhal Road,
Colombo 13, Boxing at Open Air Theatre, Vihara Mahadevi Park, Kabaddi at
Torrington Square Karate at Torrington Square, Football at Sugathadasa
Stadium and Cooray Playground, Wellawatta, Badminton at Badminton
Association Indoor Stadium, Colombo 7.
Taekwondo at Torrington Square, Softball Cricket at De Soyza Stadium,
Moratuwa and Peterson Playground, Wellawatta, Volleyball at Sugathadasa
Indoor Stadium.
The events already worked off and the champions and other place
winners are as follows: Hockey-Men-Central Province (champions), Uva
Province (runner-up), Sabaragamuwa (third) Women: Central Province
(champions), Western Province (runner-up), Uva Province (third).
Wrestling - Western Province (champions), North Western Province
(runner-up), North Central Province (third). Table Tennis -Men: Western
Province (champions), Southern Province (runner-up), Central Province
(third), Women - Southern Province (champions), Central Province North
Central Province (third). Swimming: Men Western Province (champions)
Central Province (runner-up), Southern Province (third). Women Western
Province (champions), Central Province (runner-up), Southern Province
(third). Elle -Men - North Central Province (champions), Western
Province (runner-up) Women - North Central Province (champions), Central
Province (runner-up) Gymnastics - Men-Western Province (champions)Southern
Province (runner-up), North Central Province (third). Women-Western
Province (champions), Southern Province (runner-up), North Central
Province (third).
The defending champions Western Province is involved in a tussle for
the overall trophy with Central Province and North Central Province.
Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Agricultural Development and Agarian
Services Development will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony to
be held today at 4.00 p.m. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be the chief
guest at the closing ceremony on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
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