All arrangements are being made to hold the 2024 World Indoor Athletics Championship organized by the International Athletics Federation from the 1st to the 3rd of March in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
But there has been some talk that the Sri Lanka Indoor Sports Association has decided not to join a team of 5 athletes representing Sri Lanka for the tournament.
It has been revealed that representing Sri Lanka Nadisha Ramanayake for the 400m event, Tarushi Karunaratne for the 800m event, Gayantika Abeyratne for the women's 1500m event, Aruna Darshana and Kalinga Kumara for the men's 400m event.
However, when asked about this from the Sri Lanka Indoor Athletics Association, its secretary said that the association decided not to field a Sri Lankan team for this year's World Indoor Athletics Championship because the Sri Lankan athletes should be given enough rest to prepare for the next year.Moreover, it was also mentioned that the Sri Lanka Athletics Association has planned to include Sri Lankan athletes in several international tournaments this year in order to obtain Olympic ranking points.
Mr. Saman Kumara Gunawardena, Secretary of the Sri Lanka Indoor Athletics Association, who gave further information about this, said, "Indoor indoor athletics tournaments are a separate format, so it does not apply to us. Even so, if he had joined this tournament, he would have been able to get some ranking points for the Olympic Games. But instead of this athlete for getting Olympic ranking points We have already prepared other tournaments for female players. Accordingly, we have planned to have them participate in the Bahamas International Athletics Tournament, the Dubai International Athletics Tournament, and the Diamond League Athletics Tournament to be held in Qatar. Last year was the busiest year for Sri Lankan athletes. Thus until November They had to participate in local and foreign tournaments. In such a situation, after discussing with their coaches, we will prepare their next year's game plans. Accordingly, after completing their busy year, they need enough time to prepare for the next year. For the same reason, the first one was scheduled to be held in February We decided to postpone the selection tournament to March. It is expected to select the Sri Lankan squad for the South Asian Games and the Olympic Games through the senior selection tournament. Also, it is hoped to select the Sri Lankan team that will participate in the Asian Junior Athletics Championship from the junior tournament. Not only that Under this situation, we even have to postpone the national championship. tournament which will be held in June. If by any chance a Sri Lankan team is added to the 2024 World Indoor Athletics Championship, we will have to hold the related selection tournament in January. In view of the injuries faced by the athletes, they cannot be sent to such a tournament without proper rest." was told.
The secretary of the Sri Lanka Athletics Association also said that the athletes of this country are going to participate in several qualifying tournaments for the Olympic Games.