Janashakthi sponsored athletes represent Sri Lanka at World Championship in Spain

Saturday, 14 July 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Two young and highly talented athletes sponsored by Janashakthi Insurance PLC under the insurer’s Annual Sponsorship program are representing Sri Lanka at the IAAF World Junior Championship, currently underway in Spain.

Nimesha Siriwardena, 17 year old high-jumper from Galenbindunuwewa Central College and 19 year old Steeple-chaser Chamika Jayamini from Sumana Balika Vidyalaya, Ratnapura will be taking on international competition at the at Montjuic Olympic Stadium in Barcelona where over 1740 athletes from nearly 178 countries are participating.

“This meet is going to be a significant experience in my life,” said Nimesha, a Silver medallist at the recently concluded Asian Junior Athletic Championship in Colombo. “There will be athletes with higher performance but I am not scared,” she said before leaving to Spain. “My sole aim is to perform well at this meet and bring glory to Sri Lanka.” In 2011 Nimesha secured fourth place at the Commonwealth Youth Games.

Chamika Jayamini who will be competing at the 3,000 meter Steeplechase also speaks of her determination to make her Sri Lanka proud by recording her best time. “I have been training well so I am confident I can do this,” Chamika said. She also participated at the Asian Junior Athletic Championship and is expecting tougher competition in Barcelona. “I had tough competition at the Asian meet from the Japanese athletes. This meet is going to be even more challenging but I am prepared to face the competition,” Chamika said. Her main aim at this competition is to improve her personal best performance levels as a stepping stone for future success.

Nimesha and Chamika belong to the pool of athletes who have been hand-picked for their talent and nurtured for the last four years by Janashakthi Insurance, supporting them to prosper and rise to new heights. The insurer provides selected young athletes with a monthly sponsorship, training and technical guidance plus incentive payments based on their individual performances and selection for overseas meets.

“We are very proud that these two athletes from rural areas have grown with us to reach qualifying entry standards to compete at a world championship,” said Janashakthi Insurance General Manager-Finance and Planning Bertal Pinto-Jayawardena, adding, “Our aim is to ensure that the Sri Lankan flag flies high on the international stage and for these two athletes to be inspirational examples to other talented local athletes who are capable of bringing recognition to Sri Lanka in the near future.”