Sri Lanka Athletics will field its largest team at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, including men’s and women’s 4×400 meters relay teams. Kalinga Kumarage will lead the men’s team, while Nadeesha Ramanayake heads up the women’s team. Key sprinter Aruna Dharshana is absent due to commitments in Australia, potentially impacting performance. Sri Lanka will also have athletes competing in individual events.
Sri Lanka Athletics is preparing to send its largest team to the World Indoor Athletics Championships, beginning in Nanjing, China, this Friday. This delegation includes both men’s and women’s 4×400 meters relay teams due to an invitation from World Athletics, filling the gap left by some prominent teams not competing in these relay events.
Kalinga Kumarage will lead the men’s relay team, which features emerging sprinters such as S.B.R. Madushan, Sadew Rajakaruna, and Omel Shashintha. The latter two are school athletes, and their participation offers them valuable international experience. Isuru Lakshan will serve as a reserve for the men’s team.
Aruna Dharshana, a leading sprinter, is currently training in Australia and will miss the competition, potentially affecting Sri Lanka’s performance. Sri Lanka Athletics stated that Dharshana plans to complete his commitments in Australia before returning home, which could impact the team’s chances of qualification for future global events.
For the women’s team, Asian medallist Nadeesha Ramanayake will compete alongside junior athletes Nishendra Harshani, Sayuri Lakshima, and Jayeshi Uththara, with Jithmi Wijetunga as the reserve. The women’s relay team will face strong competitors including China, India, and the USA.
Sri Lanka will also be represented by sprinter Chamod Yodasinghe, hurdler Kaveesha Bandara, and Kumarage in individual events based on their rankings from World Athletics. The Championships are expected to see participation from 576 athletes representing 127 countries, with 264 women and 312 men included in the final entry list.
In summary, Sri Lanka Athletics is poised to make a significant presence at the World Indoor Championships with its largest team yet, featuring promising young talents in both the men’s and women’s 4×400 meters relay events. The absence of key sprinter Aruna Dharshana presents challenges for the men’s team, while the women’s team faces fierce competition. The event will mark an important opportunity for the athletes to showcase their skills on a global platform.
Original Source: island.lk
