As many as 20 managers and 24 coaches will make it to September’s Asian Games in China with the Sri Lankan contingent.
Two of these coaches have been included by Minister of Sports Roshan Ranasinghe as they were mentors of two athletes who won gold medals at the recently concluded Asian Athletics Championship in Thailand.
In all a contingent of 153 will be in the tour party that Minister Ranasinghe approved for participation at Asian Games. Initially Minister Ranasinghe approved the selection of 96 athletes who will participate in 20 events.
On board are also six members of the medical staff and seven officials of the National Olympic Committee (NOC).
The two coaches hand-picked by the Minister are WGM Thushara the coach of Nadisha Ramanayake who won a gold medal in the 400m event after a lapse of 32 years and Susantha Fernando the coach of Tarushi Karunaratne who won the gold medal in the women’s 800m event.
According to an official, many recommendations were made before the Minister made his moves to approve the tour party.
Those who participated in discussions and selections were the Secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs K. Maheson, Director General of Sports Development Department Dr. Shemal Fernando, National Selection Committee Secretary Arjun Fernando, National Selection Committee Staff Officer Major Ishni Katuwangoda and National Sports Council member Lasitha Gunaratne.