[October 31 2010]
Sri Lanka’s national champion Manjula Kumara and weight lifter Chinthana Vidanage shot into fame with two record breaking performances on the second day of the 36thNational Sports Festival track and field events continued at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy today.
The Asian Championships gold medalist representing Southern Province put aside his poor performances at the Commonwealth Games and shattered the current sports festival high jump record with an effort of 2.18 metres. This performance easily overcame the previous record of 2.13 metres held by A. D. N. P. Ratnasiri of Western Province in 2006 at the Sugathadasa Stadium. Kumar is also the proud holder of the Sri Lanka record where he produced an effort of 2.27 metres in 2004.
Earlier Commonwealth Games silver medalist Chinthana Vidanage completed a successful outing while setting up three new meet records in weight lifting events which were worked off at the YMCA today. Vidanage representing North Central Province lifted an overall total of 306 points including 130 in the snatch category and 176 in the clean and jerk category while competing in the 77 kg weight class while overcoming his own records.
Sri Lanka athlete N. C. D. Priyadarshani completed a fine double to put herself in contention to win the Most Outstanding sportswomen award. The South Asian Games gold medalist put up another splendid performance to steal the limelight following her succeed on the opening day of the meet where she clinched the gold medal in the women’s triple jump event.
The star athlete from Western Province came out with another dazzling performance as she took her second gold medal by winning the women’s long jump final with an effort of 5.97 metres. She hardly received any opposition from the rest of the competitors with R.Rubasinghe (Southern) and G.S. Kaushalya (North Western) taking the second and third place respectively. Priyadarshani of course took the individual honours at the 2008 National Sports Festival as well where she produced a record breaking performance of 6.30 metres in the women’s long jump event at the D. A. Rajapaksa Stadium in Beliatta.
In addition veteran athlete Padma Nandani Wijesundera from the Sabaragamuwa Province set up another unique record by retaining the gold medal in the women’s discus throw event for the 19th successive year. The former schoolgirl from Seevali MMV Ratnapura who first came into recognition by winning her first gold medal at the age of 17 completed her task in style by clearing a distance of 43.31 metres. (C.D.)