Saturday Nov 16, 2024
Saturday Nov 16, 2024
Wednesday, 4 June 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Akila has previously won a silver medal at the Junior Asian Level last year. He unfortunately was not able to be amongst the first two finishers, who were automatically selected to run at the Junior Olympics.
Nirmala Madushika from Kathaluwa won the Gold Medal in the Under 18 Girls 400 m event and also received the Best Athlete Award in the Under 18 Girls Category at the recently held Junior Athletic Nationals. Nirmala was also selected to run last week at the Olympic Selection Meet for Asian Junior Athletes in Thailand. She has now been selected for the 16th Asian Junior Athletics Championship, Chinese Taipei.
Samith Lakmal from Ratnapura is an outstanding 400 m runner who has been selected to compete at the 16th Asian Junior Athletics Championship, Chinese Taipei. He previously was selected to SAARC Junior Athletic Championship.
Other Janashakthi sponsored athletes who excelled at the Junior National Athletic Championship included Rumeshi Ratnayake, St. Joseph’s Girls School, Kegalle who despite nursing an injury won a gold medal in the 200 m Under 20 Women’s Category. One of Sri Lanka’s rising young stars, Rumeshi has previously represented Sri Lanka at the Women’s Junior Athletic Championship, Asian School Athletic Championship and the SAARC Junior Athletic Championship in the year 2013.
Malin Udaya Kumara an athlete from Prince College, Ratnapura won Gold in 110m Hurdles as well as a Silver Medal in the Long Jump in the Under 20 category.
Ashen Jayawardena from Chilaw won gold in the Under 20 Discus Throw achieving his best personal performance so far. This was particularly a notable performance for the athlete who was not able to take part in the putt shot event due to recent floods in Chilaw affecting his home.
Harshini Wathsala of Kahawatte won Gold in the Under 20, 100m Hurdles and a Silver in the 400m Hurdles event.
Prasad Maduranga from Embilipitiya won two silver medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m category.
At present, there are 12 school athletes receiving sponsorship under Janashakthi Insurance’s rural athletics program. A further six are provided employment by the company. Two tennis players have also been brought under the sponsorship scheme, which includes a monthly payment as well as an incentive scheme to recognise outstanding performances.
Financial support is also provided when they are selected to represent Sri Lanka overseas, but Janashakthi also goes the extra mile, providing technical guidance and motivational programmes to these young athletes, to help them build up their confidence levels and capacities, as they travel down a very challenging path, that can lead to bringing honour to our Motherland.
“We are extremely proud of our talented young athlete’s performances at all recent athletic meets. Not only have these rising stars achieved personal success, but their schools and families and ultimately Sri Lanka will receive honour and recognition on the International Stage,” said Janashakthi General Manager – Finance and Planning Bertal Pinto-Jayawardena, who is also the Co-ordinator of the Athletes Sponsorship Project. “Sri Lanka is brimming with potential in the field of athletics, as is evident from these young star’s performances. It is a privilege for Janashakthi to be able to see these stars fulfil their potential through this program. In this way, Janashakthi Insurance is also strengthening the local communities that these athletes hail from and contributing to nation building,” he added.
