Sri Lanka sends 22 athletes for Asian Championship

by Leslie FERNANDO

ATHLETICS:Twenty-two member Sri Lanka Athletic Team (14 men and 8 women) will compete along with competitors from 33 other Asian countries at the 18th Asian Athletic Championships to be held from November 10 to 14 in Guangahou, China.

Athletic Association of Sri Lanka selected the athletes on their performance at the recently concluded National Athletic Championships held at the Sugathadasa Stadium recently.

The team has been approved by the Minister of Sports. In addition to competing in the respective individual events, Sri Lanka will field a 4 x 100 metres women's relay quartet and 4 x 400 metres men's relay team.Meanwhile women's sprinter Premila Priyadarshani who completed a six months ban for using drugs will make her first international appearance in China.

MEN'S TEAM: - Shehan Ambepitiya (100 metres), S. M. Weerasooriya (100 and 200 metres), Prasanna Amarasekera (400 metres, 4 x 400 metres relay), Rohitha Pushpakumara (400 metres, 4 x 400 metres relay), K. P. K. Mendis (800 metres), Chaminda Wijekoon (1,500 metres), Yasa Sri Ajith (400 metres hurdles), Chamara Gamage (Triple Jump), Manjula Wijesekera (High Jump), Mohamed Sameer (Decathlon), Indika Bandara (Steeplechase) U.G. Wickremasinghe (4 x 100 metres relay), Dilan Aloka (4 x 400 metres relay).

WOMEN'S TEAM:Achala Dias (100 metres, 4 x 100 metres relay), Premila Priyadarshani (200 metres, 4 x 100 metres relay), Chandrika Subashini (400 metres, 4 x 100 metres relay), M. M. Dilrukshi (800 metres), D. A. A. Samanmalee (1500 metres), W.K.L.A. Nimalee (Steeplechase), N. C. D. Priyadarshani (Long Jump, 4 x 100 metres relay), G. A. N. S. Jayasinghe (4 x 100 metres relay).