“It was disappointing”–Susanthika

Doha, December, 9 – Defending champion Susanthika Jayasinghe failed to live upto expectation as she was pushed to second place in the women’s 100m dash while high jumper Manjula Kumara will head home empty handed finishing only seventh in the men’s high jump final here at the action packed Al Khalifa Stadium lon Saturday night.

Guzel Khubbieva of Usbekistan snatched victory clocking her seasonal best time of 11.27 secs. while Jayasinghe equalled her seasonal best time of 11.34 secs. to clinch Sri Lanka’s first silver medal at this year’s Games.

Jayasinghe though returned the best reaction time at the start suffered a heavy set back in the first 10 meters before accelerated in the last 90 meters to finish second ahead of the Bahrain sprinter Ghasara Ruqaya.

"It was disappointing," Jayasinghe said soon after the race.

"It was a terrible start," she said adding that her recent illness had a big impact on the defeat.

Jayasinghe, however said that she would claim victory in the 200m dash, in which she won county’s first Olympic bronze medal in 52 years.

She also said she was hoping to run 11.10 secs. Saturday afternoon which would have given her a bag of confidence for the longer sprint on Saturday afternoon.

"I was under lots of pressure this (Saturday) afternoon. Everyone expected me to win here. But I couldn’t do it today. But I am sure I can win gold in the 200m dash," she added.

Jayasinghe will be joined by Sujani Buddika for the women’s 200m dash which was held at 11.57 am Sri Lanka time.

Meanwhile the scores of Sri Lankans who gathered in their numbers were disappointed when the medal prospect Manjula Kumara Wijesekera performed par below his potentials in the men’s high jump event.

-The Island-