Seventeen invitations from IAAF for Sri Lanka

by Leslie FERNANDO

ATHLETICS: Sri Lanka has received 17 official invitations from IAAF - international athletic body for participation in international athletic meets for this year and Sri Lanka is expected to compete in most of the meets said Prema Pinnawala Secretary Athletic Association of Sri Lanka.

The year 2010 will be an important year for athletics with several important meets scheduled to be held in various part of the globe.

Pinnawala added that amongst the main international athletic events are: First Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, 19th Commonwealth Games in India, 16th Asian Games in China, Asian Grand Prix Championships in three stages in India and Asian Junior Athletic Championships in Vietnam.

The main athletic meet for the year 2010 was the 11th South Asian Games but it was advanced and held in January this year in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka athletes bagged seven gold medals.The most experienced controlling body administrator cum secretary Pinnawala said that the Sports Ministry allocates and spends more finances on athletics to enable the AAS to field more Sri Lankan athletes to participate. Last year, 20 million rupees were spent by the Sports Ministry for athletics. According to Pinnawala, the Sports Ministry allocates more finances for athletics as athletes have brought honour and glory to the country similar to Sri Lanka cricket who are funded with highest financial support.

AASL Secretary, Pinnawala said that Sri Lanka athletes are expected to compete in the following international meets for the year 2010: May 22-23-Asian Zone Qualifying Standard Meet in Singapore. May 28-29: Chinese Taipei Open Athletic Championships in Taipei, June I - Asian Grand Prix First Stage in India, June 5 - Asian Grand Prix Second Stage in India. June 9 - Asian Grand Prix Third Final Stage in India. July 3-4 - Asian Junior Athletic Championships in Hanoi, Vietnam.

July 20-25: World Junior Athletic Championships in Mondone City, Canada, August 14-26: Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, October 3-14: Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, October 4-7: Thailand Open Athletic Championships in Bangkok, November 11-27: Asian Games, in Guanshu, China.