Fitting reply from Athletes to the challenge by Officials || Wins Athletics at SAG with 15 Gold Medals

By www.ceylonathletics.com | December 8, 2019 | English, International News, Latest News, Top Stories

Athletics has been the sport which has won most number of medals for Sri Lanka at the South Asian Games 2019. But despite their impressive achievement they were ill-treated, SAG team officials lead by Director General of Sports Dammika Muthugala (DG), mocked and tried to shatter their mental levels before the competition. Unlike previous editions, the athletics team or their coaches weren’t paid a penny by the Sports Ministry. They failed to make sure they have proper accommodation as the men’s and women’s teams had to relocate in to different hotels at least thrice, carrying their own baggage and equipment, through the narrow, dusty, cold and busy roads of Thamel, Kathmandu.

Following the news reaching officials, including DG, NOC Secretary Maxwell de Silva, Chef de Mission Dampath Fernando, to hold a press conference in Nepal and accused the athletes for no reason and passed the blame on the Nepali organizers. Yet none had the courtesy to at least apologize for the inconvenience faced by the team. They mocked athletes and challenged them to show their capabilities with medals and said the Athletics Team always becomes ca ‘headache’ during multi sports events.

But, the determined team slowly started responding, despite their top athletes missing out with either accidents or being hospitalized with Dengue, and the replacements did the job and the team finished with 15 gold medals, biggest gold medal tally at a SAG outside of Sri Lanka, where they beat India in the athletics competition in a SAG for the first time since 1991. A fitting reply to the challenge they were given.

The officials who mocked athletes were seen on the grounds hugging winners, in an attempt to hog the limelight with their winnings.

On the final day, US based Marathoner Hiruni Wijeyarathne who had some disappointing outings started the medal count by creating history to win South Asian Games, by winning Sri Lanka’s first gold medal for the event in a time of 2 hours 42.24 seconds. Hiruni had to run alone in most part of the race in cold dusty conditions of Kathmandu but she said she was relieved to win that gold after a disappointing outing at the World Championship earlier this year.

It was followed up by the Javelin Thrower Dilhani Lekamge who, with a distance of 55.02m won gold while women’s team captain Nadeeka Lakmali won silver to make Sri Lanka one two in the event.

In the men’s 800m, defending champion, Indunil Herath ran despite fever to win the gold medal with a time of 1 minute 50.52 seconds.

Dilshi Kumarasinghe was the most eye catching athlete of the meet as she shone with three gold medals at the SAG. Dilshi who won the 400m the other day returned to the 800m to win gold with a time of 2 minutes 06. 18 seconds. Then less than an hour later she returned to anchor Sri Lanka 4x400m women’s team for the gold medal. Former Athlete from A. Rathnayaka CC Walala got the baton with India leading the race by a considerable margin and Pakistan too ahead of Sri Lanka. But the 20 year old ran probably the best lap of her life to chase down both India and Pakistan to deliver gold for Sri Lanka.

Gayanthika Abeyrathne, who won silver behind Dilshi in the 800m, won gold being part of Sri Lanka women’s 4x400m team alongside Kaushalya Madushani and Omaya Udayangani.

In the Men’s 4x400m relay, it was Rajitha Rajakaruna and Lakmal Priyantha who had to chase down India with Priyantha running an amazing anchor leg. Aruna Darshana ran the first leg with Senira Gunaratne in the second but a baton change mess up between Gunarathne and Rajakaruna meant Priyantha had to run his heart out to chase India down for the gold medal.

In the Men’s Javelin throw Sumedha Ranasinghe won bronze with a distance of 74.97m while Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won the event with a distance of 86.29m which was a new meet record while he also qualified for the Olympics with that distance.

Gold Medals

Sarangi Silva (Long Jump Women)- 6.38M

Nilani Rathnayaka (1500m Women)- 4.34.34 sec

Hashini Balasooriya (Triple Jump Women) -13.21m

Nilani Rathnayaka (5000M Women) – 16.55 sec

Lakshika Sugandhi (100m hurdles Women) -13.68 sec

Dilshi Kumarasinghe (400M Women) – 53.40 sec

Aruna Darshana (400M Men)-46.69 sec

4x100M Men – (Himasha Eashan, Vinoj Suranjaya de Silva, Yupun Abeykoon, Chanuka Sandeep (New SAG record)- 39.14 sec

4x100M Women (Lakshika Sugandhi, Amasha de Silva, Sarangi Silva, Sadeepa Henderson) -44.89 sec

Hiruni Wijeyarathne (Marathon –Women) 2:42.24 sec

Dilshi Kumarasinghe (800M women) 2:06.18 seconds