Susanthika to head the Sri Lankan Olympic team

The Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee has named sprinter Susanthika Jayasinghe as the leader of the 2008 Sri Lankan Olympic team traveling to Beijing, China on August 5th.

Susanthika will lead the Sri Lankan team of eight -- three men and four women. She will be carrying the Sri Lankan flag at the opening ceremony.

The other women of the team include badminton player Thilini Jayasinghe, javelin thrower Nadeeka Lakmali and swimmer Mayumi Raheem. Shooter E.M. Senanayake, boxer Anuruddha Ratnayake and swimmer Daniel Lee will be participating for men’s team.

Sri Lanka is pinning hopes on Susanthika to bring home the gold this time. She won a bronze at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 for women's 200 meters, her pet event. The sprint queen was recently felicitated by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Most Outstanding Sportswoman of the Year.