Cycling pool picked for SA Games in Bangladesh

CYCLING: Two pools for training - men and women were picked by the National Selection Committee for cycling in preparation for the South Asian Games to be held in Bangladesh in January next year.

The men's pool: Meemanage Perera (SL Army), Suwaris Premachandra (DMCC), Luxman Wijeratne (SL Army), Isuru Prabath (Ports Authority), Nihal Silva (SL Navy), Nandana Wijetunge (Ports Authority), Sudeera Nilanga (SL Police), Janaka Hemantha Kumara (SL Navy), Dane Nugera (SL Air Force), Asanka Pradeep (SL Army), Jeewan Jayasinghe (SL Air Force), Wasantha Harischandra (SL Army).

Women's pool: Lasanthi Gunathilaka (Sama CC), W.K. Pushparani (SL Army), Niluka Shamali (Sama CC), Dilukshi Sumanaweera (WWCC), Ayesha Sumanaweera (WWCC), Niroshini Perera (Super Wheel CC).

The National Selection Committee that picked the cyclists comprised: P. Anthony Symons (Chairman), L.H. Sarath, Lesley Rupasinghe, Anton Alexander and Surendra Rajendra.

The selection to the 'pool' were done according to the past performances and the Time Trial (40 Km Individual time trail) held on September 26th.

Two time trial (individual men and women) were held in Horana (Men): 1. Meemanage Perera (SL Army) 59 mins 43 secs; 2. Suwaris Premachandra (DMCC) 1 hr 4.0 secs; 3. Luxman Wijeratna (SL Army) 1 hr 18 secs; 4. Isuru Prabath (Ports Authority) 1 hr 23 secs; 5. Nihal Silva (SL Army) 1 hr 27 secs; 6. Nandana Wijetunga (Ports Authority) 1 hr 38 secs; 7. Sudeera Nilanga (SL Police) 1 hr 41.0 secs; 8. Janaka Hemantha Kumara (SL Navy) 1 hr 54 secs; 9. Kivisuru Karunaratne (SL Army) 1 hr 54 secs; 10. Asiri Kelum Peiris (DMCC) 1 hr 58.0 secs.

Individual time trial (20 Km Women in Horana): 1. Lasanthi Gunathilake (Sama CC - Moratuwa) 32 mins 16 secs; 2. W.K. Pusparani (SL Army) 34 mins 55 secs; 3. Niluka Shamali (Sama CC - Moratuwa) 35 mins 7 secs; 4. Dilukshi Sumanaweera (Winged Wheel CC) 35 mins 29 secs; 5. Ayesha Sumanaweera (Winged Wheel CC) 35 mins 30 secs; 6. Manori Kumari (Lihini CC) 36 mins 30 secs.

Lasanthi Gunathilake of Moratuwa Sama CC who has won many open events averaged a speed of 36.07 Km per hour.

Road Race

There was a Road Race for men on October 1 and all the cyclists in the national pool (racing licenced holders) participated in the three-kilometre event. There were in all 61 top racing cyclists who participated. The event was held to felicitate the Deputy Minister for Agriculture Jayatissa Ranaweera for his 17 years political career and it was sponsored by Dayananda Ranaweera - President of Pradeshiya Sabhawa Embilipitiya. It was conducted by the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the District Cycling Association of Ratnapura.

The route: Eheliyagoda - Ratnapura - Pelmadulla - Kahawatte - Embilipitiya with the finish at Padalangala. The winner was Wasantha Harischandra of Sri Lanka Army with Isuru Prabath (Ports Authority) coming second and Kiwisuru Karunaratne of Sri Lanka Army in third place.

Results: (Men - Super Elite: 111 Km):

1. Wasantha Harischandra (SL Army) 2 hrs 47 mins 36.0 secs; 2. Isuru Prabath (Ports Authority) 2 hrs 47 mins 36 secs; 3. Kivisuru Karunaratne (SL Army) 2 hrs 47 mins 36 secs; 4. Nawin Ruchira (SL Air Force) 2 hrs 49 mins 34 secs; 5. Jagath Kumara (SL Police) 2 hrs 49 mins 34 secs; 6. Upul Lokuge (SL Police) same time; 7. Dane Nugara (SL Air Force) same time; 8. Sumith Silva (SL Air Force) same time; 9. Sudeera Nilange (SL Police) same time; 10. Meemanage Perera (SL Army) same time. Valuable cash prizes were awarded for the first ten riders.