by Reemus Fernando

With 33 days to go for the Paris Olympics Sri Lanka is still in search for track and field athletes to represent the country at the world’s most sought-after sports event. Unlike in the runup to the past two Olympics some of the top hopefuls received top grade competitions overseas for them to strive for better world rankings and also to reach direct Olympic qualifying standards. Yet the tough qualifying standards have continued to elude country’s top athletes.

Being a country of just over 22 million people and most of its resources dedicated for sports being utilized by a none Olympic sport it is no wonder that it is struggling to qualify athletes to brush shoulders against the world’s best. Yet against odds there are at least two athletes who are within the required ranking range to be eligible for the Paris event. Asian Games medallists Tharushi Karunaratne (ranked 47th in the ‘Road to Paris 24’) and Dilhani Lekamge (ranked 30th in the ‘Road to Paris 24’) are ranked within the required ranking range currently and enthusiasts expect them to gather more ranking points at the next two local competitions, namely, the 102nd National Athletics Championships and the National Open Stage II Competition to further improve their standings.

Their current standing does not guarantee them a berth at the Olympics as there is space for the athletes ranked below them to improve before the qualifying period ends on June 30.

In the men’s category Italy based sprinter Yupun Abeykoon was the country’s top Olympic hopeful. But a minor injury forced him out of competitions temporarily. He is expected to return to competitions soon. Currently he is ranked 78th in the ‘Road to Paris 24’ rankings. He can book a second consecutive Olympic spot if he clocks 10.00 seconds or sub ten seconds.

Sprinters Aruna Dharshana and Kalinga Kumarage are currently ranked 53 and 54 in the ‘Road to Paris 24’ rankings. The competition to get into the top 48 is tough. Some 40 athletes around the world had clocked sub 45.00 seconds by mid-June and there will be a huge competition to grab the remaining eight Olympic slots during the next seven days.

Thrower Rumesh Tharanga produced a stunning feat when he established a championship record to win the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at the recently held Asian Throwing Championships. His record setting throw fell just five centimeters short of the direct Olympic qualifying standard of 85.50 metres, though it is the ninth furthest throw in the world this year. His only chance of qualifying for Olympics is through reaching the direct qualifying standard. He has not entered the rankings as he has not competed in five ranking competitions during the qualifying period. It is no easy task bettering his record-breaking feat at the two local meets. If he reaches the target this week that will be a huge accomplishment.