The Athletic Association of Sri Lanka (AASL) has decided to form a national pool in preparation for the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.
The National pool comprising 26 Men and Women athletes are mainly Gold Medallists(including relays) at the 13th South Asian Games held in Kathmandu, Nepal in addition to two athletes who failed to participate for medical or other reasons.
The duo are NimaliLiyanarachchi (800m) and VidushaLakshani (triple jump).
“We hope to participate in over eight athletic eventsat the Tokyo Olympic Games.”
“They are the 4x100m relay (Men), 4x400m relay (mixed), long jump (Men), triple jump (Men and Women), 4x400m relay (Men), marathon (Women) and 3,000m steeplechase (Women).”
“As of March none of our athletes hadqualified for the Olympics. But since the Tokyo Games got postponed to next year because of the Coronavirus pandemic we still have a chance of qualifying,” said Fernando.
Since the Olympics got postponed because of the pandemic, IAAF is to hold qualifying events from December 30, to July 19.
From IAAF member countries, about 1,900 athletes have obtained qualification for the Olympics although almost half of the countries have not qualified yet.
It is believed that at least one male andfemale athlete would be given a chance for Olympic representation from countries who fail to qualify.
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