Buddhika and Panchali win Air Force cycle race | Sunday Observer

Buddhika and Panchali win Air Force cycle race

17 March, 2019

Buddhika Warnakulasooriya from Air Force became the overall winner of the 20th ‘Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya’ which concluded last Sunday (3) in Polonnaruwa.

Buddhika clocked 9 hours, 19 minutes and 28 seconds to complete the 414 kilometre race which was conducted in three stages. It was a surprise for all as Buddhika was way behind in stages 1 and 2 but he caught up in the final stage to grab the honours at the last minute.

Pathum Sampath Weerasinghe (Army) and Shenal Chamod de Silva (SLPA) were the runners-up in the overall standings. Suranga Ranaweera (Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipality) who did well in stage one from Colombo to Kandy failed to live up to expectations during the last stages and was placed ninth in the overall standing. But he was adjudged as the Best Hill climber.

It was Avishka Medonza (Air Force) who stole the limelight in the final stage from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa to finish the 154 kilometre event ahead of all riders. He boosted the points for the Air Force team to take the Team Championship too.

The women’s race from Dambulla to Polonnaruwa, a distance of 65 kilo meters, saw nearly 70 women in action. Panchali Sulochana from Air Force kept their flag flying winning the race in grand style.

She was followed by Niluka Shamalee (Sri Lanka Civil Defence Department) and Dinesha Dilrukshi (Air Force). Panchali had won the Guwan Hamuda Papedi Savariya a few years ago also. Last year’s winner Niluka could not meet the challenge posed by Panchali and had to be content with second place.

Final Results; (Men):

Overall Champion: Buddika Warnakulasooriya (Air Force)

First Runner-up: Pathum Sampath Weerasinghe (Army)

Second runner-up: Shenal Chamod de Silva (SLPA)

Best Hill Climber: Suraga Ranaweera (Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council)

Best Sprinter: Pasindu Lakshan (Navy)

Team Champion: Air Force

(Women):

Overall Champion: Panchalee Sulochana (Air Force)

First runner-up: Niluka Shamalee (Sri Lanka Civil Defence Department)

Second runner-up: Dinesha Dilrukshi (Air Force)

Team Championship: Air Force Women’s Team 

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