Dammam, Saudi Arabia – April 17

The third day of the 6th Asian U18 Athletics Championships in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, delivered a vibrant mix of speed, strength, and rising talent from across the continent. Set against the backdrop of Prince Nayef Sports City, over 400 athletes representing 31 nations competed with passion and purpose. Among them, Sri Lanka earned three spots on the podium with standout performances in track and field.

🌟 Sewmini Fernando was the star on the track, sprinting to silver in the Girls’ 100m final. Clocking an impressive 11.92 seconds, she finished just behind China’s Zhang Qian, in what was one of the evening’s most closely watched races. Her performance not only demonstrated raw speed but also Sri Lanka’s growing potential in sprint events on the Asian stage.

🥉 Meanwhile, in the Boys’ 1500m final, Lahiru Achintha displayed excellent race awareness and endurance, finishing in third place with a time of 3:59.47. His tactical approach and strong finish earned Sri Lanka a bronze medal, making him one of the standout middle-distance performers of the day.

🏅 In addition to these podium finishes, Janith Lakshan Jenkins leapt into medal contention in the Men’s U18 Triple Jump, claiming silver with a mark of 15.10 meters, just behind China’s Dong Zhiyuan.

Though only three athletes officially medaled on Day 3, performances across the board showed promise, heart, and competitive spirit — vital traits for building a strong future in athletics.

Stay tuned as Team Sri Lanka continues to compete and inspire at this prestigious youth championship.

🟡 Sri Lanka’s Medal Count – Day 3
🥈 Sewmini Fernando – Girls’ 100m
🥈 Janith Lakshan Jenkins – Boys’ Triple Jump
🥉 Lahiru Achintha – Boys’ 1500m

#SriLankaAthletics #AsianU18 #SewminiFernando #LakshanJenkins #LahiruAchintha #SriLankanYouth #Dammam2025 #TrackAndField #SriLankanSportsTV #PrideOfTheNation

The 2025 edition of the Sri Lanka Inter-Schools Ritzbury Relay Championship concluded in grand style at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama, showcasing the best of young athletic talent across the country. Organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Athletic Association (SLSA), this year’s relay meet brought together over 3,000 athletes from more than 100 schools, competing across five age categories – Under-12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 – for both boys and girls.

After three days of intense competition, Lyceum International School, Wattala emerged as the Girls’ overall champions, while St. Benedict’s College, Colombo clinched the Boys’ overall title, marking a remarkable finish to this year’s relay spectacle.

The championship not only celebrated school-level athletic excellence but also served as a platform for broader international collaboration. On the final day, Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) hosted an invitational qualification relay event, aimed at selecting teams for the World Relay Athletics Championship 2025. Participating nations included Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives, adding an exciting international flavour to the domestic meet.

The success of Relay Carnival 2025 highlighted the depth of school-level talent in Sri Lanka and underlined the importance of events like this in building a competitive future for the country on the global athletics stage

Sri Lanka is set to make impact at the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2025 in Nanjing, China, with a talented squad of 12 athletes competing across multiple disciplines. The competition, scheduled from March 21 to 23, will be a crucial platform for Sri Lankan athletes to gain international exposure and improve their world rankings.

Sri Lanka’s Participation in Nanjing

The Sri Lankan contingent includes top sprinters, hurdlers, and relay teams, with Kalinga Kumarage leading the squad as captain.

Men’s Events:

• Chamod Yodhasinghe – 60m
• Nadun K. Bandara – 60m Hurdles
• Kalinga Kumarage – 400m, 4×400m
• Randima Madushan – 4×400m
• Sadew Rajakaruna – 4×400m
• Omel S. Silva – 4×400m
• R.P. Isuru Lakshan – 4×400m

Women’s Events:

• Nadesha Ramanayake – 4×400m
• L. Sayuri Mendis – 4×400m
• Nishendra de Silva – 4×400m
• Jayeshi Uththara – 4×400m
• Jithma Wijethunga – 4×400m

Coach/Manager: Sanjeewa Weerakkody

Key Objectives for Sri Lanka

The main goal for Sri Lanka at the Nanjing 2025 Championships is to improve their ranking in the 4×400m relay and secure a spot at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou. The men’s 4×400m team currently holds the 31st position in the “Road to Guangzhou” rankings, thanks to their gold medal-winning 3:04.48 finish at the Asian Relays 2024.

However, with other nations competing in upcoming events, Sri Lanka must maintain or improve their position within the top 32 to qualify for the World Relays in May.

Event Schedule for Sri Lankan Athletes

Sri Lankan sprinters and relay teams will compete across three days in Nanjing. Key events to watch include:

• 60m & 400m Heats (Day 1)
• 60m & 400m Semi-Finals (Day 2)
• 4×400m Relay Finals (Day 3)

With Olympian Aruna Dharshana unavailable, the 4×400m men’s relay team will look to Kalinga Kumarage, Randima Madushan, Sadew Rajakaruna, and Omel S. Silva to lead the charge.

A Chance to Make History

The Sri Lankan squad will aim to not only qualify for the World Relays but also set new national records. Their performance in Nanjing will be a stepping stone toward the 2025 World Championships and future global events.

Stay tuned for updates as Sri Lanka competes at the World Athletics Indoor Championships 2025!