The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Sri Lanka launched a program to elevate the skills as well as the mental health and social welfare of talented athletes so they can concentrate on their pathway to winning medals.
They also attracted a sponsor in Crysbro in their Next Champ program that has gathered momentum and at the completion of one year, junior athletes like Senura Silva (table tennis), Bimandee Bandara (table tennis), Nethmi Ahimsa (wrestling), Nadila Embuldeniyage (gymnastics), Tharushi Karunaratne (track and field - 800m) and Sithum Jayasundara (track and field) have already done well in international competitions. In all 20 athletes were selected into the programme.
They are Kumar Danushan (golf), Amandhika Amarasinghe (shooting), Tehan Rayman (boxing), Nethmi Nimthera (boxing), Ravindu Jayasundara (athletics), Tharushi Karunarathne (athletics), Kapila Kumara (weightlifting), Sachini Laksarani (weightlifting), Senura Silva (table tennis), Nadila Nethviru (gymnastics), Tharinda Premakumara (taekwondo), Sasadara Fernando (taekwondo), Sithuli Sodithya (high jump) Ishara Samanmalee (long jump), Vinod Ariyawansha (400m hurdles), Madushika Premaratne (weightlifting), Minuwandana de Silva (weightlifting), Bimandee Bandara (table tennis), Wenuka Kithnula (tennis) and Nethmi Fernando (wrestling). Crysbro has set aside a training allowance of Rs. 47,000 for a month for each athlete besides pledging Rs. 125,000 and overseas travelling.
“It is heartening to note that the fruits of the seeds that we sowed a year ago have begun to bear fruit. When one thinks about a 30 per cent success in a programme which was severely hampered by the Covid-19 closures and the lack of competitions and opportunities it is commendable,” said Amores Sellar Senior Marketing Manager of Crysbro. (TBR)