Sports

Gayanthika, Nimali to contest for 800 metres glory in Tharushi’s absence

Published

2 years ago

2024/02/29

Sahan Weerasooriya

Gayanthika Abeyratne

by Reemus Fernando

Four months after basking in the Asian Games glory a majority of athletes who won medals at the quadrennial event in China will return to action when Sri Lanka Athletics commences its first track event of the 2024 calendar on Friday.

While almost all male athletes who won medals in China will compete for supremacy in the men’s 400 metres, the gold winning 800 metres specialist Tharushi Karunaratne will be the notable absentee in both the 400metres and her pet event in the women’s category.

The name of Ratnayake Central Walala athlete Karunaratne was not in the entry list published by Sri Lanka Athletics and sources close to the athlete said that she had skipped the event to better prepare for the decisive events taking place later this year.

Karunaratne created history winning a gold medal in the women’s 800 metres at the Asian Games last year.

In her absence, former national record holders in the 800 metres, Gayanthika Abeyratne and Nimali Liyanarachchi are the main contenders for top honours at the First Selection Trial at Diyagama.

The athletes from Sooriyawewa were instrumental in improving the standard of the discipline well before Karunaratne came into the circuit as a school athlete.

Asian Games medallists Dilhani Lekamge in the women’s javelin and Nadeesha Ramanayake in the 400 metres are the main contenders in their respective events. The names of sprinters Amasha de Silva, Shelinda Jansen and Rumeshika Ratnayake are entered in the women’s 100 metres promising a tight contest.

In the men’s category, Aruna Dharshana, Kalinga Kumarage, Rajitha Rajakaruna, Pabasara Niku and Pasindu Kodikara who won Asian medals in the 400 metres are among the highest ranked male athletes entering the competition, while Janindu Lakvijaya who improved the national record in the men’s 110 metres and 400 metres hurdler Dhanuka Dharshana are among the highest ranked Sri Lankan athletes who have entered the competition.

The two day event is also a selection ground for junior athletes who aspire to represent Sri Lanka at the Asian Junior Athletics Championships this year.

: (from left) Aruna Dharshana, Rajitha Rajakaruna, Kalinga Kumarage and Pabasara Niku enjoyed medal success at Asian events last year.

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Related Topics:Gayanthika Abeyratne Reemus Fernando

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10th Navy Open Shooting Championship concludes

Published

59 mins ago

2026/07/19

Priyan

The 10th Navy Open Shooting Championship, organised by the Sri Lanka Navy, concluded successfully following events held from 1 to 12 July 2026 at the Small Bore Firing Complex,
Welisara.

The awards ceremony took place on 18 July at the Commander Parakrama Samaraweera Memorial Indoor Sports Complex at SLNS Gemunu, under the patronage of the Commander of
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More than 900 shooters representing the Sri Lanka Army, Navy, Air Force, Police and a number of shooting clubs from across the island competed in this year’s championship. Notably, over 800 of the participants were school athletes, highlighting the growing interest and participation of young athletes in the sport.

The championship provided a valuable platform for members of the Tri-Forces, Police, shooting clubs and school competitors to compete alongside one another, exchange experience and further develop their technical skills in shooting. It also reaffirmed the championship’s role in nurturing young talent and supporting the development of future national and international-level shooters.

Competing in a highly competitive field, marksmen representing the Sri Lanka Navy delivered an impressive performance, securing a number of medals and bringing distinction to the Navy through their achievements.

The event also made a significant contribution to the promotion of shooting sport in Sri Lanka by identifying emerging talent and strengthening cooperation, sportsmanship and healthy
competition among participants representing a wide range of institutions and organisations.

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