Two athletes qualify for World Junior meet | Sunday Observer

Two athletes qualify for World Junior meet

25 April, 2021
Shanika Lakshani-Isuru Kaushalya Abeywardena
Shanika Lakshani-Isuru Kaushalya Abeywardena

Seven athletes are tipped to achieve the qualifying standard to take part in the World Junior Athletic Championship which is scheduled to be held from August 17 to 22 in Nairobi, Kenya .

According to a senior official of Sri Lanka Athletics(SLA), Isuru Kaushalya Abeywardena of Ananda Sastralaya, Matugama and Shanika Lakshani of Holy Cross, Gampaha have already achieved qualification for the World Juniors in the 400 and 800 meters respectively.

Both of them achieved their target during the recently concluded Athletics Trials at the Sugathadasa Stadium. Isuru finished with 47.24 seconds and passed the qualification standard of 47. 35 seconds while Shanika finished the race in two minutes 07. 02 seconds ahead of the qualifying standard of two minutes 08. 70 seconds.

Meanwhile at the first selection trial meet held by SLA at the Sugathadasa Stadium for the Tokyo Olympics and World Juniors, Dilshi Kumarasinghe set a Sri Lanka record in the women’s 800 meters while Ovini Chandrasekera of Bishop’s College broke the shot putt junior national record. These are good signs for the forthcoming major Games according to the SLA.

In addition Sri Lanka junior athletes could achieve qualification for the world event in the boys’ triple jump and long jump events and the girls’ shot putt. At the World Junior Championships Sri Lankan junior athletes could at least make it to the final eight of each event.

“It is too early to say whether the Sri Lankans would win medals or not but they will do their best to fulfill their task,” added a senior official of SLA .

Another six athletes are close to achieving qualification for the Olympics. They are in the 3000m steeplechase (women), 800m (women), 200m (men) and 4x400m relay (men).

Since both the Junior and Senior National Athletic Championships will be held prior to the Olympics and World Juniors, SLA expects more Sri Lankans would qualify for these international events.

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