Chinese experts design special spike for Ambepitiya [November 16 2010]

Chinese medical experts have designed a special spike for Sri Lanka’s ace sprinter Shehan Ambepitiya. Sri Lanka team officials referred injured Lankan sprinter to Chinese doctors and sports medicine experts.

After through investigations, the medical experts here have diagnosed that Ambepitiya has a problem with his ‘body balance’ and need to wear a special spike to his right leg.

“Medical experts who examined Ambepitiya did a foot analysis and diagnosed a discrepancy in his leg length. There is a slight difference in his right leg,” Dr. Seewali Jayawickrema of the Sports Medicine Department said today.

Dr. Jayawickrema was of the opinion that Ambepitiya has a chance to break the ten-second barrier in the 100m dash in future if he could overcome the discrepancy, making a modified right spike with a slightly thicker innersole. “But it all depends on how soon he adjusts to that. It would reduce his pain symptoms. He needs to undergo a full body analysis to ascertain the complete nature of the discrepancy,” the Lankan sports medicine expert said.

The new right spike tailor-made for Ambepitiya will be ready by tomorrow and the Lankan sprinter is expected to have his first workout with it at the training venue on Wednesday evening. (Orthotics is the branch of medical engineering concerned with the design and fitting of devices such as braces in the treatment of orthopedic disorders.)

The Lankan sprinter sustained a leg injury during last month’s Commonwealth Games and was forced to withdraw from the semi finals of the men’s 100m event. He originally planned to skip both the 100m and 200m here and compete only in the 4 x 100m relay. However, the new spike has given him fresh hopes and he may take part in the 100m event.

“It is too early to predict anything. Since there are a few days to go for his events, he has time to settle,” Chef-de-Mission of the Sri Lanka contingent Prema Pinnawale said.