Sri Lanka postpones Asian junior athletics event

Colombo, May 21 (Xinhua-ANI): The 15th Asian Junior Athletics Championships, which was scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka next month, has been postponed, the Sports Ministry said on Monday.

Sri Lanka's Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told reporters that the Junior Athletics Championships has been postponed indefinitely but did not give a reason for the last minute postponement.

A total of 850 athletes from 43 countries and regions were to participate in the 15th Asian Junior Athletics Championships in Sri Lanka next month.

Since Sri Lanka was to host the event for the first time, measures were taken to hold the championships successfully and to achieve more medals for the island.

Sri Lankan authorities had also upgraded facilities at its premier international sports stadium, the Sugathadasa Stadium, in time for the event.

Organized by the Asian Athletics Association, the Asian Junior Athletics Championships has so far been held in Singapore, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. (Xinhua-ANI)