Chandrika Subashini won the first medal for Sri Lanka clocking 53.41 seconds to finish third in the women’s 400 meters final at the second Lusofonia Games at 00.30 hours Sri Lanka time (8pm Lisbon time on 12th) in Lisbon Portugal yesterday(13).

Running in the sixth lane Subashini was head to head with the formidable Brazilian and Portugal athletes. Leading in the first 300 meters, she lost the silver medal as she dropped speed in the last 100 meters.

While Leema Jailma of Brazil won the gold with a time of 52.63 seconds, Brazil’s Emili Fisero took the silver clocking 53.29 seconds.

"I am proud I won the first medal for my country. The athletes who won the first and second places had clocked impressive timings close to 51 seconds. I am happy that I was able to compete against such athletes, while I am disappointed I couldn’t reach my best time," the bronze medalist Chandrika said.

Sumeda Ratnayake, considered another medal prospect in the men’s 400 meters, was placed fourth. Sri Lanka lost the opportunity to win a medal as Ratnayake had to run in the eighth lane of the men’s 400 meters which was conducted as a direct final.

"Our girl and boy (Chandrika and Sumeda) did not have the advantage of the tracks. Had they competed in middle tracks the results would have been favourable," Badra Gunawardena, the lady chaperone said.

Sri Lanka’s athletic prospect Shehan Ambepitiya equalled his personal best clocking 10.43 seconds and come second only to 2004 Athens Olympic Silver Medalist Francis Obicwalo in the Men’s 100 meters to qualify for the final, but after was placed fifth in the final with a time of 10.49 seconds.

"My start was good but after 60 meters, I felt that I lost my rhythm. I knew others were passing me," Ambepitiya said.

R.A.B. Hasaranga who clocked his personal best of 10.53 in the 100 meter heats finished seventh in the final with a time of 10.55 seconds.

Portugal’s Francis Obicwalo won the gold with a time of 10.18 seconds and Juse Croose of Brazil won the silver in 10.33 seconds.

N.C.D. Priyadharshani was placed fourth in the women’s long jump and Pramila Priyadharshani sixth in the women’s 100 meters.

Athletic events were scheduled to end yesterday. Sri Lanka had expectations in the 4x100 meters which was scheduled for 00.30 hours Sri Lanka time today (8pm Lisbon time).

Apart from that Sri Lanka were scheduled to compete in the 200 meters (men’s and women’s) and men’s 1500 meters.

Sri Lanka was not sure of Shehan Ambepitiya’s participation in the 200 meters as the 4x100 meters event was schedule to take place two hours after the 200 meter event.