Mallika Satchithananda and Thambaralatha - out to repeat fine performances

ATHLETICS: Sri Lanka Masters will field a team of 126 athletes and 7 officials for the 15th Asian Masters Athletic Championship in Chiang Mai, Thailand, starting on Dec. 1 and it ends on Dec. 5.

14 Asian countries will vie for honours at the championships. It will be recalled at the last Asian Championships in Bangalore 2006, Sri Lanka were runners-up in the medals tally beating Japan to third place. Sri Lanka won 156 medals including 58 Gold 55 Silver and 43 Bronze.

P. H. D. Waidyatilaka, President of the Sri Lanka Masters Athletic Association is confident that the athletes will perform equally well this year.

However, the competition from China and Japan will be tougher than in 2006 in addition to that of the home team Thailand with the largest contingent of athletes. India which won the championships in 2006, will be keen to repeat the performance in Thailand.

Mallika Satchithananda (70 Age Group) and H. H. Thambaralatha (F 35) who won Gold in all four events in Bangalore are expected to repeat their performance in Chiang Mai too. Other notable athletes are J. M. Punchi Banda (M 70) who created Sri Lanka records in all 4 events at the SLMA open championship held in Sept. 2008, T. I. E. Karunarathne (F 60), G. S. C. Dahanayake (M 50), N. Wickramarachchi (M 55), K. A. P. Ariyaratne (M 55), Gamini Weerasinghe (M 50), R. M. Mangalika (F 40).

The Sri Lanka team will be led by P. H. D. Waidyatilaka as Chef de Mission. Waidyatilaka who is also the Chairman Technical Committee of the Asian Masters Athletics, will have his hands full during the championships as he will have to chair the Technical Meeting of Team Managers on 30th Nov. 2008 and Managers' meetings daily during competition.

T. J. Chandradasa is the team manager with K. Satchithananda as Co-Manager, M. A. W. Mallikarachchi is the Women's Manager, while K. M. Karunaratne, Senani Bogahawatte, Sriyani Weerasinghe and Dickman Guruge are the Asst. Managers. Capt of the team - M. M. G. Bandara.