Trailblazers on the track
Updated Date: 29th September, 2023
Hangzhou, 29 September 2023 – Today marked the inception of the most electric sport and undoubtedly the most awaited sport the games – Athletics, and Sri Lanka sure put on a show to remember at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.
The first event of Sri Lanka featured Nadeesha Ramanayaka, performing in the Women’s 400m Heat 2. Nadeesha ranked herself 2nd, clocking 52.67s – the 3rd best timing of all the heats, and earned herself a spot in the final tomorrow.
Her performance was followed by Kalinga Kumarage in the Men’s 400m Heat 1, who gave a gallant performance to come in 1stin his heat, clocking the 2nd best timing of all the heats with 45.57s and second only by 0.01s to Japanese Fuga Sato’s timing of 45.56s, and followed suit to earn himself a rank in the final tomorrow.
Finally, Aruna Dharshana ran in the Men’s 400m Heat 3 and came in 3rd in his heat with a timing of 46.07s and earned himself a spot in tomorrow’s final alongside Kalinga.
The yo-yo like performance of the at the West Lake International Golf course did not help the Sri Lankan cause as they finished the second round of the four-round event at the 13th position in the Team category, ending up with a total 431. (-1)
In spite of ending up 213 at the end of the first round, the Lankan team faltered more on the second with a total five bogeys and two double bogeys by veteran Anura Rohana on the 6th and Prabhagaran on 9th.
Yes, they had their fair share of happiness with eight birdies, but over performance, it was disappointing with all four players a mistake or more. Finally, Sri Lanka ended the board under Nepal in the 12th position. South Korea (-44) 388, Hong Kong China (-38) 394, and Japan (-34) 398 were leading at the end of day 2.
Lankan Esports contingent took on the 1/8 Eliminations Group D in Peace Elite Asian Games Version at the China Hangzhou Esports Center. Battling against Japan, Indonesia and Kazakhstan, Team Sri Lanka came in 3rd, clocking a total time of 01hrs. 03mts. 20.830secs.
