Sri Lanka without top runners at Asian Grand Prix

Sri Lanka without top runners at Asian Grand Prix

Sri Lanka sans top-notch sprinters including Susanthika Jayasinghe will field a mediocre ten-member contingent at the forthcoming Asian Grand Prix 2008 series which will commence later next month in Thailand.
The first two legs are scheduled for June 23 and 27 in Thailand while the final leg will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam on June 30.
Jayasinghe opted out due to her training commitments ahead of Olympics in the United States, high jumper Manjula Kumara failed to secure a place due to his poor form and Rohan Pradeep Kumara is sidelined with an injury.
The team includes three girls and seven boys, including the men’s 4x400 relay quartet which eyes an Olympic berth.
Women’s 400m sprinter Menaka Wickramasinghe who clocked an impressive 52.93 seconds last year will be a possible medal prospect, though hard to predict anything due to poor preparations, while Premila Priyadarshani, the South Asian athletic champion, will carry the burden of the nation in the shorter sprints.
Priyangika Madumathi, the national women’s high jump champion, is sure to improve her performance.
Prasanna Amarasekera will however be the main medal prospect in the 400m men’s sprint in the absence of seniors Sugatha Tilakeratne and Rohan Pradeep Kumara. Prasanna will play the anchor role in the 400m relay. South Asian Champion Umanga Surendra who found favour with selectors ahead of teenager Shehan Ambepitiya will compete in the 100 metres.
The relay team comprises Prasanna, Prabath Mendis, Rohitha Pushpakumara, Dulan Priyashantha, Asoka Jayasundara and Shiwantha Mudalige.

--------Lakbimanews.LK