Colombo, Sri Lanka, January 28, 2021: Thirteen young athletes across a number of sports were unveiled as part of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka-CRYSBRO Next Champ scholarship programme as the island nation bids to groom future champions at Asian and Olympic level.
Last September, Crysbro, the leading poultry company in Sri Lanka, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sri Lanka NOC launching the Next Champ programme with an initial investment of Rs. 20 million (US$105,000). The object was to identify 20 athletes between 15-16 years to win international medals.
National Sports Associations had been asked to nominate their best athletes in the under-16 category, and on Wednesday, at the launch of the online Next Champ portal, organisers also unveiled the names of 13 athletes in eight sports who have been picked so far.
Maxwell de Silva, Secretary General of Sri Lanka NOC, said: “Last year we started this programme and today we are pleased to announce more details. Most of the athletes we have picked come from the villages and we are very happy to give them a helping hand. Our first target is winning medals at Asian level and then the ultimate goal is the Olympics.”
The selected athletes will be sponsored to the tune of Rs. 1 million (US$10,500) per year which will cover costs such as nutrition, transportation, coaching fees, accommodation, medical expenses and buying sports gear. A separate fund will be maintained to cover expenses to compete at international level.
With the launch of the web portal – www.nextolympichope.com – organisers have invited the public and well-wishers to donate funds which will be disbursed to the athletes themselves. This process will be carefully governed by the Sri Lanka NOC.
The athletes are:
Tharushi Karunarathna, Seneka Gunaratne and Ravindu Jayasundara (athletics).
Tehan Rayman and Nethmi Nimthera (boxing).
Nadila Ambuldeniyage (gymnastics)
Kanas Danushan (golf).
Amandhika Amarasinghe (shooting).
Senura Silva (table tennis).
Tharinda Premakumara and Sasadara Fernando (taekwondo).
Sachini Laksarani and Deshan Kumara (weightlifting).
source: OC ASIA