Vavuniya’s Anusha steals the limelight

Bernard PERERA reporting from Beliatta

T. Anusha of Vavuniya became the star on the first day of the 20th National Youth Sports Festival now in progress at the D.A. Rajapaksa Stadium in Beliatta when she set a new meet record in the Discus Throw, under 20 age group. Though this age group was introduced for the first time she went past the record.

Anusha, a student of Vavuniya Ladies College representing Sivapragasa Youth Club threw the Discus for a distance of 38.350 metres. Second placed Promodika Ayomi of Ratnapura and W.A.D. Weeraratne of Anuradhapura, the runners-up were far behind Anusha with distances of 25.28 and 22.80 m respectively.

The second field event worked off was the Long Jump girls which was won by T.W.A. Kaushalya of Holy Family Convent representing Familian Youth Club from Kalutara. She had a leap of 4.88 m to secure the victory.The women 800 m event was won by Suriyawewa Youth Club representative W.K.L.A. Nimali clocking 2:19.05 secs. She was followed by A.M.W. Ratnamali and B.G.M. Padmini.

The 200m finals of under-20 and open events too were completed at the time of going to press with A.A. Sajeewani winning the open and G.A.I.S. Dayananda becoming the winners in the under-20 category. Two of them docked 27.2 and 26.8 secs. When comparing the under-20 timing looked better than the open event.

Heavy rains that came down in the morning put the organisers into disarray, and they had to wait till around 2.00 p.m. to commence the games proper. They have decided to conduct the events this morning.

Athletic results

Results:

Discuss Throw under-20 girls: 1. T. Anusha (Vavuniya District) 38.35m new meet record, 2. Pramudika Ayomi (Ratnapura Dist.), 3. W. A. D. Weeraratne (A’pura Dist).

Long Jump - Girls: 1. T. W. A. Kaushalya (Kalutara Dist.) 4.89 m., 2. W. M. Chamila (Galle Dist), 3. R. M. D. C. A. Ranatunga (Kegalle Dist).

800m Girls: 1. W. K. L. A. Nimali (Hambantota Dist) 2:19.05, 2. A. M. W. Ratnamali (Badulla Dist), 3. B. G. M. Padmini (Puttalam Dist).

200m under 20: 1. D. I. A. S. Dayananda (Ratnapura Dist) 26.8 secs, 2. Shalini Priyangika (Moneragala Dist), 3. E. A. I. Shyamali (Hambantota Dist).

200m open: 1. A. A. N. Sanjeevani (Hambantota Dist) 27.02 secs. 2. C. Priyadharshani (Kalutara Dist), 3. J. M. J. R. Jayasundera (Kurunegala Dist).

Mannar win soccer final

Mannar District with a last minute goal broke the two all deadlock to win the National Youth Sports Festivals soccer final beating Kegalle District three goals to two here at Beliatta Stadium.

It was Kegalle District who got ahead with 19th minute through the goal from the boot of K. L. A. Jagath. But the fighting Mannar district boys within a space of two minutes equalised, S. J. Bingo’s header found the net. They continued the attack and found the second goal to be in front and the lemons were taken.

Soon after the turn around both teams fought a hard battle and the Kegalle got the equaliser in the 70th minute.

The Mannar boys fought all the way up to the last minute and J. B. Roach made it just a minute before the final whistle to finish the match in their favour 3-2. I. E . Wickramasooriya controlled the game with K. W. M. Dimuthu, H. H. D. Thushara and M. E. Asanka assisting.