Sri Lankan middle distance athlete Gayanthika Abeyratne who qualifued for 1500m at forthcoming World Athetic championship has withdrawn to focus on Asian Games.
Actually this is a very tough decision while I am the first Sri Lankan athlete to take part in 1500m event at world championship. My coach Sajith Jayalal always encouraged me to go forward. I was able to get bronze medal each at 800m and 1500m at the recently concluded Asian Athetic championship to bring honour for my country. I know world championship is very competitive event.
I am presently training at Boralanda (high attitude training) and my coach advised me to get continuous training to focus on Asian Games in China. This is a tough decision but getting training for Asian Games is more important. If Ii went to Hangary for world championship I could have missed my training. I know getting medal at world championship is difficult and we are focused more on Asian Games.
Gayanthika Abeyratne the 36 th year old Athlete from Sri Lanka Navy hails from Sooriyawewa won gold medal at 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games and silver medal at Asian championship in 2017 and recently won gold at Japan International meet before her two bronze at last Asian athetic championship in Bangkok.
She is the best middle distance women’s runner and hope to compete in 800m and 1500m events at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, Chinà from September 23 to October 8. This could be last Asian Games for Gayanthika and her aim is to get medal to finish her career.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka Athetic team (4x 400m relay team, Aruna Dharshana (400m) and Dilhani Lekamge (Javelin Thrower) will compete in World Athetic championship which will held from August 19 to 27 in Budapest, Hungary and Sri Lanka Athetic Vice President Ajith Naragala will be the Manager of the Sri Lanka team.
Dhammika Ratnaweera