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| Saturday, 7 August 2004 |
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Countdown to Olympic Games with Dinesh Weerawansa: Sri Lanka Contingent - Anuradha Indrajith Cooray Sri Lanka's national record holder in men's marathon and 10,000, metres Anuradha Indrajith Cooray is one of the best long distance runners produced by the country after veteran K.A. Karunaratne, who took part at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Started his school career as a 5,000m runner at Diuvlapitiya Central College. Joining the Sri Lanka Army in 1999 and coming under the watchful eyes of veteran, Brigadier Parry Liyanage turned a significant chapter in his life. He then switched on to men's marathon as Brigadier Liyanage rightly understood the endurance and staying power of the lad. He reached his peak at the 2004 South Asian Games in Islamabad last April where he clocked two minutes, 16 minutes and 36 seconds to secure the gold medal. Attached to the Artillery Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army, 26-year-old Cooray also holds the Sri Lanka junior record for Boys 5,000m. Had the honour of winning the Singapore Open International marathon for three years in-a-row since 2001. Cooray has represented Sri Lanka in several international meets with distinction. He was twice placed fourth in back to back Asian Grand Prix meets and also finished sixth at the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998. His main aim in Athens would be to come out with his personal best timing in men's marathon. He has made a lot of preparations under the watchful eyes of his coach, Brigadier Liyanage and hopes to makes his presence felt in Athens. Cooray has been the undisputed champion in many domestic marathon races and has also shown good form in men's 10,000m event at national level. Fact file: Name: Anuradha Indrajith Cooray Born: 24th March 1978 School Attended: Diuvlapitiya Central College, Diuvlapitiya Club: Sri Lanka Army Sports Club Civil status: Single Coach: Brig. Parry Liyanage Sport/Event: Athletics - men's marathon Career best record: men's marathon in 2 hours, 16 mts, 36 sec, men's 10,000m in 29 mts & 32.0 seconds. Sri Lanka debut: 1999 South Asian Games in Nepal Career milestones: Olympic Games - Makes debut in Athens, 2004 Asian Games - placed sixth in men's 10,000m in Bangkok, 1998 Asian Championships - fourth in men's 10,000m in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2000, fourth in men's 10,000m in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2002 South Asian Games: second in men's 10,000m in Kathmandu, Nepal in 1999. Gold medal in men's marathon in Islamabad, Pakistan in 2004. Open meets: won the Singapore International Open for the last three successive years - 2001, 2002 and 2003. |
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