Final selection for Asian U-18 Youth Athletics on February 21-22

Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) has decided to hold the final selection for the 5th Asian U-18 Youth Athletic Championship on February 21 and 22 at Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex, Diyagama.

The competition conducted by Asian Athletic Association (AAA) is scheduled to be held from April 27 to 30 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

SLA President Major General Palitha Fernando (Rtd) told ‘Daily Mirror’ that arrangements have been made to conduct the Performance Test for the Junior and Senior Athletic Pool at the same time.

Over 200 entries have been received for the final youth selection and Junior and Senior Performance Test. Only 25 selected events will be included.

AAA has allocated ten athletes by quota and qualifying standard to Sri Lanka for the Asian Youth Athletic Championship 2023 where over 30 Asian countries are expected to participate.

Accordingly, SLA has decided to allow only athletes who achieve the qualifying standard to win medals to participate in this year’s Asian Youth Athletic Championship.

When Sri Lanka, consisting of eight athletes (six boys and two girls), participated in the 4th Asian Youth Championship in Kuwait in 2022, they won three silver and two bronze medals.

Sri Lanka has won a total of 14 medals (1 Gold, 9 Silver and 4 Bronze) at Asian Youth Athletic Championships which started in Doha in 2015.