87-year old Jamis for Asian Masters Athletics

Sri Lanka’s 87 year old W. Jamis will participate at the 14th Asian Masters Athletic Championships to be held from November 14 to 19 in Bangalore, India.

Masters Athletics Championships will be conducted in five age groups starting at 35 years and over. The 87 year-old Jamis won both the sprint events at the 2005 and 2006 Sri Lanka Masters Open Championships.

The youngest is Tissa Ratnayake who is 35 years old and is still competing in the Sri Lanka National Championships in the 1,500 metres event.
Sri Lanka’s athletes bagged 72 medals at the 13th Asian Masters Championships held in Bangkok in December 2004. This included 17 gold, 23 silver and 32 bronze medals.

The squad from Sri Lanka will be managed by T.J. Chandradasa and K. Sachithananda will be the assistant manager. Mallika Sachithananda will be the manager of the women’s team.

Meanwhile, P.H.D. Waidyatilake, President of the Sri Lanka Masters Athletics and Chairman Technical Committee of the Asian Masters Athletics will be the Technical Delegate at the 14th Masters Championships.

Waidyatilaka is overall in charge of the technical aspects of the Asian Championships and had to make several visits to Bangalore during the year to ensure all technical matters are in place prior to the Championships.
Over 1,600 athletes from 18 Asian countries have entered for participation and a very high standard can be expected in Bangalore.