Dharshana, Kalinga edge closer to Olympic qualifying standards

By Reemus Fernando  

Asian Relay gold medallists Aruna Dharshana and Kalinga Kumarage will be closely following the ‘Road to Paris 24’ Olympic rankings during the next few weeks as they aspire to secure tickets to the quadrennial event in Paris.

Dharshana who was scheduled to return yesterday evening after winning two medals at the Asian Relays in Thailand will leave for two competitions in China and Taiwan on Friday.

Dharshana who won the 4×400 metres gold and the mixed relay silver at the first ever Asian Relays is the closest Sri Lankan to an Olympic berth as he is currently ranked 51st in the ‘Road to Paris 24’ rankings maintained by World Athletics. He needs to secure and maintain a position within the top 48 in the ‘Road to Paris 24’ rankings before the qualifying period expires on June 30.

‘We are looking forward to do well at the ‘Belt and Road Athletics Championship (from May 27 to 29) in China and at the competition in Taiwan (June 1 and 2),”coach Asanka Rajakaruna told The Island yesterday.

Dharshana has a personal best of 45.30 seconds and if he clocks sub 45 seconds he will be able to secure a direct berth.

Meanwhile, sprinter Kalinga Kumarage has earned 1177 points for his top performance at the recently held Kinami Michitaka Memorial Athletics Meet in Osaka. The veteran who anchored the men’s 4×400 metres team to gold at the first ever Asian Relay in Thailand on Tuesday produced back to back sub 46 seconds feats in the 400 metres in Japan. The World Athletics statistics did not list his  performance at the last meet in Tokyo.

The 31-year-old is currently ranked 56th in the ‘Road to Paris’ Olympic rankings in his pet event. He needs to secure a ranking position in the top 48 if he is to qualify for the quadrennial event.

However, the Asian Games medallist is four ranking positions behind Aruna Dharshana who is the highest ranked Sri Lankan.