Final qualifying opportunities for SL athletes as deadline nears for Olympic qualification

by Reemus Fernando

The 102nd National Athletics Championship starting on June 25 and the National Stage II competition on June 30 will provide final qualifying opportunities for the top-notch athletes vying to book Paris Olympic berths.

With no Sri Lankan athlete achieving direct qualifying standards, the top two local competitions will provide the top athletes a stage to improve their positions in the ‘Road to Paris 24’ rankings.

The 800 metres specialist Tharushi Karunaratne (47) and javelin thrower Dilhani Lekamge (30) are the only Sri Lankan athletes who are within the required range in the Olympic qualifying rankings currently but they need to produce performances almost close to their personal best performances at the last two local meets to have hopes of qualifying for the Olympics

Karunaratne’s record breaking (Asian Continental record in the 600m) feat in Spain on Tuesday and Lekamge’s medal winning achievement at the Asian Throwing Championship have stood in good stead to maintain the current ranking positions but they do not guarantee berths in the Olympics as their counterparts from other countries too will be aiming to produce their best before the deadline closes on June 30.

The stakes will be high in the men’s 400 metres at the National Championships as sprinters Aruna Dharshana and Kalinga Kumarage will battle it out to earn the maximum points available to improve their current positions in the ‘Road to Paris 24’ Olympic rankings.

Dharshana is currently ranked 53rd in the men’s 400 metres in the ‘Road to Paris 24’ rankings and Kumarage is ranked 54th. The Asian Games medallists have to be within the top 45 in the ranking to punch their tickets to Paris.

Rumesh Tharanga the new national record holder in the men’s javelin missed the direct Olympic qualifying standard by just five centimeters when he threw the javelin to a distance of 85.45 metres to win gold at the Asian Throwing Championship. An athlete needs five top performances during the Olympic qualifying period to enter the Olympic rankings.  Tharanga had only the Asian event to shine. He has to clear a distance of 85.50 metres in the last two competitions if he is to qualify.