Sri Lanka is listed to send a large contingent of 94 athletes plus 47 officials to participate at the 19th Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8.
After a prolonged medal drought in athletics there is some hope of a medal with Yupun Abeykoon the fastest man in South Asia ready to blaze on the track again. There is also Nadeesha Ramanayaka who is ranked number five in the 400 metres with Gayanthika Abeyratne also in good form.
The Games will see 21 different sports being held with 481 gold medals to be won by 12,500 athletes in the fray.
The Games will begin in reality on September 15 with the advent of the women’s cricket competition with Sri Lanka in the fray.
The participation of the Sri Lanka rugby team will depend on the approval by World Rugby.
Nishantha Piyasena will be the Chef-de-Mission of the contingent.
Athletics:
Yupun Abeykoon, H.K.K. Kumarage, Aruna Dharshana, Ushan Tiwanka Perera, G.D.K.K. Pabasara Niku, R.M.R.N. Rajakaruna, Dinuka Deshan, P.M.P.L. Kodikara, Rumeshika Ratnayake, Nadeesha Ramanayake, D.M.T.D. Karunarathna, G.T.A. Abyerathna, Sarangi Silva, Dilhani Lekamge, M.J.H.Uththara, B.S.L.Mendis
Officials
Lal Chandrakumara – Manager, I.M.Ranasinghe - Head Coach, Vimukthi De Zoysa- Coach (Relay), Claudio Licciardella- Coach, Y.K.KuIarathne- Coach, Matteo Galderisi-Physio therapist, Susantha Fernando- Coach
Archery:
1. Sajeev de Silva,
2. E.A.S.W.Kumara,
3. A.Wijesinghe Karunaratne
Officials:
1.S.A.B.Rajapakse - Manager/ Coach (Compound),
2. N.S. Seneviratne - Coach (Reserve)
Aquatics:
1. Matthew Abeysinghe, 2. Akalanka Peiris, 3. Ganga Seneviratne
Official: Manoj Abeysinghe - Coach
Badminton:
1.P.A.V.A. Nettasinghe,
Official: Roshan Nettasinghe
(Manager, Coach)
Boxing:
1. Rukmal Prasanna,
Officials: Harsha Kumara (Head coach), SP Jayathilake (Asst. Coach)
Chess:
1.L.M.S.T. de Silva.
Official: MA Chithrarathne (Manager)
E Sports:
1.Mohammed Azmy,
2. Ishara Fernando,
3. Watson Dharmasiri,
4. Mohammed Ramji.
Official: Raveen Wijeyatilake (Manager)
Judo:
1. R.C.N. Dharmawardana.
Official: A.P. Pathirana (Coach)
Karate:
I. H.A.H. Hettiarachchi,
2. G.D.A. Femando
Officials: 1.Chaminda Manohara (Coach), 2. Keerathi Basnayake - Manager
Squash:
1.Ravindu Laksiri,
2. Chanithma Sinaly,
3. Wakeel Mohamed Shamil
Official: Eranda Geeganage - Manager
Taekwondo:
1.L.C.S. Liyanage, 2. M.I.P. Kumari
Officials:
1.C. Punchihewa – Manager,
2. M.R. Ratnasekara - Coach
Weightlifting:
1. D.M.C.I. Dissanayake,
2. Y.D.I. Kumara
Officials: 1.R.B. Wickramasinghe – Coach, 2. Rukshan Gunathilaka - Coach
Wrestling:
1. P.N.A. Fernando.
Official: Suranga Kumara - Coach
Wushu:
1.P.N. Balawardana,
2. Nipun Shanika
Official: Abbas Shiebak - Coach
Yatching:
1.Taalya Tranchell,
2. T.K. Nanayakkara
Official: WPK Janaka - Coach
Rowing:
1.Sampath Sagara,
2. M.N.M. Nafiran,
3. Chandrakumani Liyanage,
4. Shiwangi Wehihenage.
Officials: P.S. Lopez (Coach),
2. A.M. Alagiyawanna - Coach
Golf:
1.N. Thangaraja, 2. Mithun Perera,
3. Anura Rohana, 4. K. Prabagaran
Official: Lal Wickramathunaga - Manager
Beach Volleyball:
1. Chathurika Madushani,
2. Deepika Bandara
Official: K.A. Thakshila - Coach
Rugby:
1.Srinath Sooriyabandara,
2. Heshan Jansen, 3. Tharinda Ratwatte, 4. Chathura Seneviratne, 5. Gamunu Chethiya, 6. Adeesha Weeratunga, 7. Ramesh Fernando, 8. Dinupa Seneviratne, 9. Ravindu Hettiaarachchi, 10. Dharshana Dabare, 11. Akash Madhushanka, 12. Adam Gauder, Raveen de Silva (Standby), Kavindu de Costa (Standby), Sudharaka Dikkumbura (Standby)
Cricket: (Men):
1. S.D.L. Daniel, 2. D.L.S. Croospulle, 3. P.T.M. Dabare, 4. Ashen Bandara, 5. M.H. Subasinghe, 6. S.S.D. Arachchige, 7. W.R.S. Femando, 8. Lahiru Udara, 9. Ahan Sanchitha, 10. Sachitha Jayathilake, 11. M.N.V. Silva, 12. S.M.L.D. Samarakoon, 13. R.M. Liyanaarachchi, 14. W.M.A.I.D. Wijesundara, 15. Nuwan Thushara, L.P.P.M. Kumara (Standby), M.N.K. Fernando (Standby), Kavishka Anjula (Standby).
Cricket: Officials:
1.JJB Vinothen (Manager), 2. SGA Gunawardana (Head coach), 3. Upul Chandana (Asst. Coach), 4. Sajeewa Weerakoon (Support coach), 5. MPAK Wattegama (Physiotherapist)
Cricket Women’s team:
1.H.M.D. Samarawickrama, 2. Chamari Atapattu, 3. R.M.V.D. Gunarathne, 4. N.N.D. Silva, 5. I.D. Witharana, 6. M.A.A. Sanjeewani, 7. E.D.K.N.S. Seneviratne, 8. H.G.K. Kavindi, 9. W.G.A.K. Kulasooriya, 10. O.U. Ranasinghe, 11. S.W.LP. Femando, 12. K.D. Walikonthagei, 13. Inoka Ranaweera, 14. S.M.K. Dasanayake, 15. Udeshika Prabodani, G.W.H.M. Perera (Standby), S.S. Pattidura (Standby), M.A.T. Sewwandi (Standby), H.D.R.S. Silva (Standby), K.G.M. Shehani (Standby)
NOC Officials:
l.Nishanthe Piyasena - Chef de Mission, 2. Reshika Udugampola - Deputy Chef de Mission/ Lady Chaperon, 3. Erandika Gunawardena - HQ Team Official, 4. Ruwan Alahakoon - HQ Team Official, 5. Chalani Dayarathna - Administrative Official, 6. Hansika Wijayagunasekara - Administrative Official, 7. S.R. Pathiravithana - Press officer
Medical Personnel
1.Dr. Chathuranga Ranasinghe - Chief Medical Official, 2. Dr. C.A. Edirismghe - Medical Officer, 3. R.P.H.P. Perera – Masseur, 4. U.G.S.K. Rukkatthanademya – Masseur, 5. K.R. Wijesinghe –Masseur, 6. H.N. Damayanthi – Masseur