Country’s medal winning track and field athletes, who had endured many hardships to take the chance of competing at the 60th Interstate Athletics Championship in India, were stunned by the ‘shocking treatment’ they received on their arrival in Colombo on Friday as they were sent to Matara for quarantine, jeopardizing their chances of training at the Sugathadasa Stadium in a bio bubble.
At least one athlete who will be competing in Tokyo next month and a World Junior Athletics Championship hopeful were among the ten member contingent who were sent to Nilwala National College of Education, Wilpita close to Akuressa on their arrival, denying them, of all, the vital training opportunity at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
According to sources, the team had been informed prior to their departure from India that they would be quarantined at the Sugathadasa Stadium Hotel making it possible for them to train at the stadium during that period. Sri Lanka Athletics sources said that there had been a backup plan as well to accommodate them closer to the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Diyagama if a necessity arose.
They were returning from Patiala via Qatar and had been traveling from 2.30 pm on June 30th until July 2nd morning.
“During a pandemic like this none of them expected a grand welcome despite doing considerably well in India. All what they wanted was a safe journey to Sugathadasa Stadium Hotel. But they had been informed at the Airport that they would be sent to Matara,” a source close to athletes told The Island.
“Sports authorities should understand that peace of mind and continuous training are vital for track and field athletes to reach their targets. Missing ten to 14 days of training will have a huge impact on their performances. Can you expect the Olympian in this team to do well after missing ten to 14 days of training,” a source close to athletes questioned.
The bitter experience forced one of the top medal winning athletes to vent his frustration in social media in the morning yesterday stating that he was sad about representing Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s track and field Olympic hopefuls were hampered due to lack of quality competitions. With them needing competitions to improve their world rankings the Sri Lanka Athletics made last minute arrangements to send the team to the 60th Interstate Athletics Championship in Patiala on their Indian counterparts’ invitation. It was the first overseas meet since 2019 for a track and field team.
According to sources the athletes had to make eleventh hour documentation work (with regard to Covid 19 protocols) by themselves at the Ministry of Sports before their departure and the twelve member contingent had only a meager amount as pocket money to spend during their stay in India.
The country won one gold, several silver and bronze medals during the five-day event and produced some remarkable performances which are going to augur well for the future. While Kalinga Kumarage’s gold medal winning feat in the men’s 400 metres, women’s 4×100 metres relay performance (44.55 seconds) which was the best time by a Sri Lankan team in nearly twenty years and Medhani Jayamanne reaching qualifying standards for World Junior Championship in Kenya were among the highlights of the meet.
https://island.lk/medal-winning-track-and-field-athletes-receive-step-motherly-treatment-on-arrival/
At least one athlete who will be competing in Tokyo next month and a World Junior Athletics Championship hopeful were among the ten member contingent who were sent to Nilwala National College of Education, Wilpita close to Akuressa on their arrival, denying them, of all, the vital training opportunity at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
According to sources, the team had been informed prior to their departure from India that they would be quarantined at the Sugathadasa Stadium Hotel making it possible for them to train at the stadium during that period. Sri Lanka Athletics sources said that there had been a backup plan as well to accommodate them closer to the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Diyagama if a necessity arose.
They were returning from Patiala via Qatar and had been traveling from 2.30 pm on June 30th until July 2nd morning.
“During a pandemic like this none of them expected a grand welcome despite doing considerably well in India. All what they wanted was a safe journey to Sugathadasa Stadium Hotel. But they had been informed at the Airport that they would be sent to Matara,” a source close to athletes told The Island.
“Sports authorities should understand that peace of mind and continuous training are vital for track and field athletes to reach their targets. Missing ten to 14 days of training will have a huge impact on their performances. Can you expect the Olympian in this team to do well after missing ten to 14 days of training,” a source close to athletes questioned.
The bitter experience forced one of the top medal winning athletes to vent his frustration in social media in the morning yesterday stating that he was sad about representing Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s track and field Olympic hopefuls were hampered due to lack of quality competitions. With them needing competitions to improve their world rankings the Sri Lanka Athletics made last minute arrangements to send the team to the 60th Interstate Athletics Championship in Patiala on their Indian counterparts’ invitation. It was the first overseas meet since 2019 for a track and field team.
According to sources the athletes had to make eleventh hour documentation work (with regard to Covid 19 protocols) by themselves at the Ministry of Sports before their departure and the twelve member contingent had only a meager amount as pocket money to spend during their stay in India.
The country won one gold, several silver and bronze medals during the five-day event and produced some remarkable performances which are going to augur well for the future. While Kalinga Kumarage’s gold medal winning feat in the men’s 400 metres, women’s 4×100 metres relay performance (44.55 seconds) which was the best time by a Sri Lankan team in nearly twenty years and Medhani Jayamanne reaching qualifying standards for World Junior Championship in Kenya were among the highlights of the meet.
https://island.lk/medal-winning-track-and-field-athletes-receive-step-motherly-treatment-on-arrival/