The 32-year-old national record holder took first place in the event by clearing 2.24 metres which was 0.5 metres short of the Olympic qualifying mark of 2.29 metres.

“It was heartbreaking not to reach the qualifying standard after two very good attempts,” said a disappointed Kumara. “I was looking forward to taking part in the Rio Games.”

The three-time South Asian Games gold medalist represented Sri Lanka at the 2004 Athens Olympics in Greece. Kumara, who won the Asian Championship gold medal in 2004, set the national record of 2.27 metres at the age of 20.

Six finals were worked off yesterday but there were no records broken.

Seventeen finals including another Olympic prospect Nadeeka Lakmali’s Javelin Throw event are scheduled for today, the second day of the three-day championship sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom.

Results (all finals):

Men

High Jump: 1 KIP Manjula Kumara (Air Force) 2.24 m, 2 RATD Karunaratne 2.17 m, 3 S Jayamal (Lanka Lions SC) 2.14 m.

Discus Throw: 1 ZTM Azik (Army) 43.77 m, 2 HMPGDB Ratnayake (Air Force) 42.88 m, 3 TGT Chathuranga (Lanka Lions SC) 41.03 m.

Women

Long Jump: 1 SLS Silva (Army) 6.04 m, 2 WHT Kumari (Air Force) 5.81 m, 3 Anjani Puluwansa (Colombo DAA) 5.77 m.

Discus Throw: 1 PKAA Maduwanthi (Air Force) 40.10 m, 2 WMSK Weerasekara (Air Force) 39.72 m, 3 PAIMD Perera (Navy) 36.75 m.

3000m Steeplechase: 1 UKN Ratnayake (Army) 10:10.30 min, 2 HWN Kumari (Navy) 10:50.30 min, 3 YMIDDK Kumari (Army) 11:11.30 min. 10,000m: 1.

Central Province became runner-up with 47gold, 33silver and 57 bronze medals while the North Western Province secured third place winning 26 gold, 27 silver and 34 bronze medals.

Two Sri Lanka records and 12 new meet records were established during the three-day meet. High jumper Manjula Kumara from Southern Province who leaped to 2.19m was adjudged the Best Male Athlete. Manjula retained the title for the second consecutive year as he was awarded the Best Athlete award at the 40th NSF in Anuradhapura last year.

Western Province’s N.C.D. Priyadarshani who set up a new Sri Lanka record in women’s long jump with a distance of 6.43m was awarded the Best Female Athlete award. Priyadarshani erased the previous SL record created by N.K. Chandrasena in 2002 (6.40m).
The Best Athlete (female) N.C.D. Priyadarshani (WP) and Best Athlete (male) Manjula Kumara of Southern Province with their awards.

The first SL record of this year’s meet was established by P. K. A. A. Madhuwanthi of Uva Province in the hammer throw event (43.18m). She erased her own previous record of 42.74m.

M. V. Suranjaya of Southern Province set up two new Meet Records in 100m and 200m events. He became the fastest man by finishing 100m in 10.45 secs and broke the 17-year previous record (10.47 secs) set up by Chinthaka de Soysa. He created his second meet record by erasing Shehan Ambepitiya’a previous 200m record (21.28secs) with a timing of 21.02 secs.

The Sri Lanka record holder for women’s Javelin throw, Southern Province’s Nadeeka Lakmali set up a new Meet Record of 58.52m, erasing her previous record (57.89m). Nadeeka’s National record is 60.64m.

The 42nd National Sports Festival will be held in Northern Province next year.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe was also present at the meet, but left before the award ceremony.

New records of the meet –

Men’s

Javelin throw – R. M. S. J. Ranasinghe (Sabaragamuwa) 75.91m

Pole-vault – M. H. I. Sandaruwan (WP) 4.83m

200m – M.V. Suranjaya (SP) 21.02secs

100m – M.V. Suranjaya (SP) 10.45secs

Women’s

Hammer throw – P. K. A. A. Madhuwanti (Uva) 43.18m (NSLR)

Long jump – N. C. D. Priyadarshni (WP) 6.43m (NSLR)

5000m – Nilani Ratnayaka (Sabaragamuwa) 16.50:67 Minutes

Triple jump – Vidusha Lakshani (WP) 12.98m

800m – W. K. L. A. Nimali (SP) 2.05:32 Minutes

400m Hurdles – W. P. E. R. Dulakshi (SP) 59.51secs

Javelin throw – Nadeeka Lakmali (SP) 58.52m

400mx4 – Southern Province 3.43:98 Minutes

The Lankan contingent which includes 23 athletes and eight officials, have arrived in Wuhan and the athletes are getting used to the condition here in the host city, which are quite similar to Colombo weather.

Sri Lanka’s other top medal hopes will highly rely on experienced high jumper Manjula Kumara, Chaminda Wijekoon (1500m), men’s 4x400m team , Gayanthika Abeyratne (800m) and Chandrika Subhashini (400m).

Lakmali, who is among the best in Asia, is aiming for a long shot at Wuhan, following her successful run at the previous Asian Athletics Championships. She won the bronze medal with a 52.59 metres throw at the 2007 Amman Games and four years later, bettered her record with a 60.16 metre throw to win the silver medal in Pune, India in 2013.

Then she threw 60.39 metres to finish 12th in the IAAF World Athletics Championship held in Moscow, Russia, landing the javelin just a fraction behind her national record throw of 60.64 metres which she established at the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Forces’ Inter-Regiment Athletics Championships.

At the 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland last July, she threw 59.04 metres which was below her expectations, to finish sixth, but she has proved that she is among the top contenders for a medal at Wuhan. Non of the Asian athletes could finish ahead of Lakmali in Glasgow. In the absence of top Asian countries such as Japan and China which are non Commonwealth Nations, the only other Asian in the top list at Glasgow was Annu Rani who was placed eighth.

Lakmali is vastly experienced, with over eight years of expertise in the international arena. She was trained in Finland with some of the best in the world for quite a long period along with her then coach A.J. Rodrigo. However she faced a huge setback at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea last year in which she could not live up to expectations and she ended up producing a below par feat (57.71 metres).

But the star athlete who has won a number of medals for the country at international meets, will be the one to watch in the women’s javelin throw in Wuhan on June 7, the final day of the meet.

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