Lekamge aims at breaking national record

By Reemus Fernando

Asian Games medallist Dilhani Lekamge will aim at reaching her personal best in qualifying for the women’s javelin finals when she makes her Olympic debut in Paris today.

Her coach Pradeep Nishantha said that Lekamge will aim for a final berth before the team departed for Paris. The 37-year-old is the last Sri Lankan track and field athlete entering the arena after 800 metres specialist Tharushi Karunaratne and sprinter Aruna Dharshana. The latter was expected to compete in a historic men’s 400 metres semi-final yesterday evening.

Lekamge is the second Sri Lankan woman after former national record holder Nadeeka Lakmali (2008 Beijing Olympics) to compete in the Javelin throw at an Olympics.

She will compete in Group ‘A’ where Germany’s Christin Hussong and Victoria Hudson of Austria are among the favourites. The European champion Hudson carries a seasonal best of 66.06 metres to the qualifying round. Christin Hussong boasts a personal best of 69.19.

Lekamge is also expected to meet her Asian counterparts, namely Marina Saito of Japan, Qianqian Dai of China and India’s Annu Rani in group ‘A’.

The throwers competing in group ‘A’ and ‘B’ have to clear a distance of 62.00 metres or be with in the top 12 to qualify for the final.

Lekamge has a personal best of 61.57 metres and will be aiming to better that national record mark to reach the final.