Sri Lanka Competing in World Indoor Championships Relay Finals…

Sri Lanka is set to participate in the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Nanjing, fielding its largest team yet, including men’s and women’s 4×400 meter relay teams. Led by Kalinga Kumarage, the men’s team features young sprinters while the women’s team includes Asian medallist Nadeesha Ramanayake. Individual athletes Kaveesha Bandara and Chamod Yodasinghe will also compete. The event hosts 576 athletes from 127 nations.

Sri Lanka is preparing to participate in the upcoming World Indoor Athletics Championships in Nanjing, China, which commences on Friday. The nation will field its largest team yet, following an invitation from World Athletics to include both men’s and women’s 4×400 meters relay teams. This opportunity arises due to the absence of notable sprinting nations competing in this global event, allowing Sri Lanka to showcase its talents.

Kalinga Kumarage will lead the men’s relay team, alongside junior sprinters S.B.R. Madushan, Sadew Rajakaruna, and Omel Shashintha. The team was selected based on their performance in a trial earlier this month. Despite the lack of star sprinter Aruna Dharshana, who is currently training in Australia, this presents a significant opportunity for the junior athletes, particularly Rajakaruna, who has recently set a new national junior record.

The women’s relay team includes Asian medalist Nadeesha Ramanayake along with emerging sprinters Nishendra Harshani, Sayuri Lakshima, and Jayeshi Uththara, with Jithmi Wijetunga serving as the reserve. The team will face strong competitors from the USA, China, India, Australia, and Poland in their quest for a top performance at the championships.

In addition to the relay teams, Sri Lanka will also be represented by individual athletes hurdler Kaveesha Bandara and sprinter Chamod Yodasinghe, who earned their spots through world rankings. A total of 576 athletes from 127 countries will participate in this year’s World Indoor Championships, highlighting the extensive scale of the event which features 264 women and 312 men.

Sri Lanka’s significant participation in the World Indoor Athletics Championships marks an opportunity for its relay teams and individual athletes to compete on an international stage. With the withdrawal of certain leading athletes, junior sprinters now have the chance to prove themselves alongside global powerhouses. The assembling of the largest Sri Lankan team for this championship signifies the growing commitment to athletics within the country, as it aims to achieve remarkable results against formidable competitors.

Original Source: island.lk