Sri Lanka secured nine gold medals, nine silver medals, and 17 bronze medals at the South Asian Athletics Federation (SAFF) Junior Championship, which concluded at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai, on Friday (13).
In doing so, Sri Lanka also shattered four meet records. Team leader Lesandu Arthavidu from Ananda College stunned the arena on the final day as he cleared a massive personal best of 2.17m in the high jump, winning the gold medal with a new meet record. Tharusha Mendis, just 17, finished second for the silver medal, clearing 2.10m.
Sri Lanka once again sealed both the 100m and 200m men’s events during the championship, with two Ananda College athletes, Merone Wijesinghe and Indurasa Vidushan, winning the 100m and 200m respectively, while also setting new meet records in the process. They came together once again, along with Malith Thamel and Dineth Induwara, to secure the 4x100m gold medal.
While the 4x100m men’s relay gold medal was expected, Sri Lanka’s 4x400m team ran their hearts out to beat India, who had individual gold and bronze medalists in the team. Hasindu Methsara, Omel Shashintha, Jathya Kirulu, and Sadev Rajakaruna clocked 3:09.28 seconds for the gold medal. Kirulu, who finished outside the medals in the 400m in Chennai despite being a World Junior semifinalist, ran his heart out, giving the lead to Sri Lanka, where Sadev, who wasn’t included in the individual 400m, ran the race of his life to secure the gold medal.
Meanwhile, two 16-year-olds excelled in the 800m, with Davindu Awishka clocking a new meet record of 1:49.83 seconds to win the men’s 800m gold medal, while Tharushi Abhisheka clocked 2:10.17 seconds to win the women’s 800m gold medal.
The other gold medal came from 110m hurdler Sandun Kosala, who clocked 14.06 seconds to win the gold medal.
Sri Lanka fielded a team of 53 athletes for the 4th edition of the SAFF Junior Championship, which served as a steppingstone for budding athletes towards their senior careers.
India won the overall championship with 21 gold medals, 22 silver medals, and five bronze medals. Apart from Sri Lanka and India, none of the other participating countries were able to win a gold or silver medal. Bangladesh finished third with three bronze medals, while the Maldives secured two bronze and Nepal one. Bhutan and Pakistan failed to win any medals.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) promises to bring more frequent South Asian Athletics Championships, with the last SAFF Junior Championship held in 2018. The AFI stated that they will be holding the SAFF senior and junior championships in alternate years in a budget competition model, allowing regional athletes to gain international exposure at a lower cost.
Gold Medals
- Merone Wijesinghe: 100m Men – 10.41 seconds (Meet Record)
- Savindu Awishka: 800m Men – 1:49.83 seconds (Meet Record)
- Tharushi Abhisheka: 800m Women – 2:10.17 seconds
- Sandun Kosala: 100m Hurdles Men – 14.06 seconds
- Kavinda Dissanayaka: Triple Jump Men – 15.09m
- Lesandu Arthavidu: High Jump Men – 2.17m (Meet Record)
- Indusara Viduhan: 200m Men – 21.33 seconds (Meet Record)
- 4x400m Men’s Team (Hasindu Methsara, Omel Shashintha, Jathya Kirulu, Sadev Rajakaruna) – 3:09.27 seconds
- 4x100m Men’s Team (Malith Thamel, Dineth Induwara, Indusara Vidushan, Merone Wijesinghe) – 40.28 seconds (Meet Record)
Silver Medals
- Dineth Weerarathne: 100m Men – 10.49 seconds (Better Previous Record)
- Kashmika Jayarathna: High Jump Women – 1.65m
- Nethra Samadhi: High Jump Women – 1.65m
- Omel Shashintha: 400m – 47.17 seconds
- Hansaka Sandeepa: Triple Jump Men – 14.92m
- Tharusha Mendis: High Jump Men – 2.10m (Better Previous Record)
- Dilki Nehara: Triple Jump Women – 12.32m
- 4x400m Women’s Team (Jithma Wijethunga, Pravindi Dunusinghe, Sashini Bhagya, Takshima Nuhansa) – 3:49.99 seconds
- 4x100m Women’s Team (Dhananjana Ranasgalla, Dhanani Kodithuwakku, Dilanma Ransini, Shanella Senevirathne) – 45.08 seconds
Bronze Medals
- Jayavi Alwis: Shot Put Men – 15.62m
- Shanella Senevirathne: 100m Women – 12.04 seconds
- Thevindu Sandil: Long Jump Men – 7.22m
- Cristian Dabarera: Discus Throw Men – 39.24m
- Dulanjana Pradeepani: 3000m Women – 10:39.39 seconds
- Dulanjana Pradeepani: 1500m Women – 4:39.01 seconds
- Miyuni Gunathilaka: 100m Hurdles Women – 15.32 seconds
- Dhananjana Ranasgalla: Long Jump Women – 5.73m
- Nisansala Madubashi: Javelin Throw Women – 35.02m
- Malkethmi Silva: Shot Put Women – 10.68m
- Prashan Buddika: 1500m Men – 4:03.79 seconds
- Malith Thamel: 200m Men – 21.44 seconds (Better Previous Record)
- Dilhara Danasinghe: Javelin Throw Men – 62.22m
- Takshika Nuhansa: 400m Women – 55.27 seconds
- Vishwa Tharuka: 110m Hurdles Men – 14.27 seconds
- Sansala Himashani: 800m Women – 2:12.13 seconds
- Savindhi Gunarathne: Discus Throw Women – 37.95m