Milantha Dissanayake qualifies for High Jump at World Junior Championship

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

ATHLETICS: Forty five countries have already confirmed their participation at the Asian Junior Athletic Championship which is scheduled to take place from 9-12 June 2012 in Sri Lanka at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

The Sugathadasa Stadium which is under renovation should be ready for the event in April or early May. In 2002 the Asian Senior Athletic Championship was held at the venue which was a big success.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka Army's Milantha Dissanayake who is training in Beijing, China, at the IAAF High Performance Centre has reached the Junior World Athletic Championship standards in the high jump event, clearing 2.15 metres according to the President of the AAA General Palitha Fernando.

"There are four more athletes Nadeshani Henderson (400M women), Gishani Jayatilleka of Sumana Balika MV (400m hurdles, women), Indunil Herath (Army) 800m and Lahiru Prasanjith (Taxila Horana) 400m hurdles who are training vigorously and not so far from the required criteria to participate at the next junior World Athletic Championship to be held in Wales, England this year", Palitha Fernando added.

Trials will be held from March 24 and 25 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Diyagama and the final selection will be done on May 10-13.