Ushan , Anjani took early lead to best athlete title

High Jumper Ushan Thiwanka and Long Jumper Anjani Pulwansa took early leads on the Best Athlete’s title at the National Sports Festival 2019 (NSF) with impressive performances, considering the unfavorable ground conditions at the Vincent Dias Stadium, Badulla .

Thiwanka, the National Champion for the High Jump event competed for the first time at the NSF and cleared 2.12m, which is equal to 1019 points in the IAAF scoring charts, took the lead as the best performer of day one.

Thiwanka hails from Maris Stella College Negombo had a difficult childhood taking care of his parents who were disabled, suffering from polio.

He cleared a personal best of 2.24m last year qualifying for the Asian Games but could not get the tour due to officials bungling.

“I had an injury scare after last year, so I had to use my personal savings to fund my travelling to China for treatment where I did laser treatment among other methods which has been fruitful since I had no trouble with my jumping today, despite these conditions “said Ushan.

“With one month to go for the South Asian Games it would have been ideal if this competition took place on a synthetic track, which would have been helpful to our performing. Competing here the athletes are exposed to injuries” said Ushan.

Ushan also requested that his coach be included in the SAG team as the AASL hasn’t still announced the list of SAG coaches yet. Also for the first time in nine years, there was no Manjula Kumara Wijesekara in the High Jump event as the SL record holder and Olympian wasn’t given the entry to participate due to a bizarre NSF ruling.

Meanwhile, defending champion of women’s Long Jump, Anjani Pulwansa leapt 5.96m to secure her title. Her performance was equal to 990 points in the IAAF scoring cards where she took an early lead to the Best Female Athlete title, with the Triple Jump, Javelin Throw and the 800m, yet to be held, which have the highest possibility for better performances.

Brother shines in 400m hurdles

Two brothers, Asanka and Asitha Rathnasena shone in the 400m hurdles, winning the gold and silver medals. Elder brother Asanka, who is also the national champion for the event, won the event with a time of 54.05 seconds while Asitha clocked 54.38 seconds. Their usual rival in the event throughout the last few years, Uva Province’s Aravinda Chathuranga did not compete having got married on Thursday.

Low performance

Several events registered their lowest performance in recent times, considering previous feats in the NFS, due to the unfavourable grass track hampered by Thursday’s rain, though there were no rain interruptions yesterday.

Men’s and women’s Long Jump, men’s and women’s 400m hurdles saw the lowest performance of winners in an NSF since 2014. While, the men’s High Jump saw its lowest winner’s performance in ten years. Women’s Shot Put saw its lowest performance in the 16 year NSF history.

 

Results

Men

Hammer Throw: 1. Sisira Kumara (SP) 47.67M, 2. D.M. Dharmasena (SGP) 45.79M,   3. S.R. Kumarasiri (NCP) 44.95M

Long Jump: 1. J.H.G Sampath (Uva) 7.34M, 2. Amila Jayasiri (NWP) 7.32m, 3. M.K. Karunasekara (NWP) 7.29M

High Jump: 1. Ushan Thiwanka Perera (WP) 2.12m, 2. C.L. Mendis (SP) 2.10M,  3. P.S. Tharuka (NWP) 2.01M

400m Hurdles: 1. Asanka Rathnasena (SGP) 54.05 sec, 2. Asitha Rathnasena (SGP) 54.38 sec, 3. A.R. Madushan (SP) 54.78 sec

200m: 1. Sumesh Wickramasinghe (SP) 21.89 sec, 2. C.L. Kumara (NCP) 22.15 sec , 3. Dasun Silva (CP) 22.15 sec

10000m: 1. R.M.S. Pushpakumara (WP) 31:25.56 sec, 2. K. Shanmuganeshwaran (CP) 31:25.59 sec, 3. Upul Kumara (Uva) 31:25.66 sec

Discus Throw: 1. ZTM Aasik (EP) 43.59m, 2. M.S. Niroshana (SGP) 43.53m, 3. D.B. Rathnayaka (CP) 41.58M

 

Women

Shot Put: 1. Nadeeka Muthunayaka (CP) 12.19M, 2. Priyangika Kumari (SP) 12.08M,  3. P.S. Clarens (Uva) 11.37M

Long Jump: 1. Anjani Pulwansa (WP) 5.96M, 2. Lakshika Sugandhi (WP) 5.76M,  3. Sadeepa Henderson (WP) 5.67M

Pole Vault: 1. Anitha Jegatheeswaran 3.30M, 2. Udeni Silva (WP) 3.10M, 3. Sachini Perera (WP) 3.00M

200m: 1.Amasha de Silva (CP) 25.00 sec, 2. Sadeepa Henderson (WP) 25.46 sec, 3. F.S. Yamic (CP) 25.70 sec

400m hurdles: 1. Shayama Dulani 01:02.02 sec, 2. N.D. Wickramasinghe 01:02.36 sec, 3. Nadeeka Lakmali (SP) 1:02.55 sec

5000M: 1. N.M. Nandasena (EP) 17:40.17 sec,  2. Nilani Ariyadasa (SGP) 17:47. 46 sec,  3. P.N. Kumari (CP) 17:67.61 sec