ODISHA TO HOST ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN JULY 6-9

The much looked forward to 22nd Asian Athletic Championship, that was shifted from Ranchi, will now held at Bhubaneswar, Odisha from 6 to 9 July, the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) confirmed yesterday.

The Asian Athletic Championship was originally scheduled to be held from 1-4 June at Ranchi but since Ranchi pulled out, Odisha came forward to host the meet. AAA members visited the venue in Odisha to check on the progress immediately before AAA officially confirmed the venue change yesterday.

Sri Lanka managed just one medal at the previous edition of the Asian Championship held at Wuhan, China where 800m runner Nimali Liyanarachchi secured a bronze medal. But Sri Lankan athletes had improved a lot thereafter though they barely have a venue to practice on. Many of them were looking forward to this year’s Asian Championship as it is a good opportunity for them to secure Asian Medals especially with the championship schedule to be held in India where the weather is similar to that in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka had already started their preparations for the Championship after the sports ministry began extending financial allowances to the pool athletes last month. At present two teams were sent to compete in the Philippine Open and Australian Open while another team of 12 athletes are schedule to go to China and Chinese Taipei next month for three legs of the Asian Grand Prix to be held on 24, 27 and 30 April.

The 86th AAA council held at Bangkok, Thailand yesterday where former Sri Lanka’s AASL President, Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando participated as an executive committee member.