Sports
Susantha speaks of Tharushi’s potentials as the youngster book semi-final berth
World Junior Athletics Championships
by Reemus Fernando
Susantha Fernando, the coach who trained 16-year-old Tharushi Karunaratne to qualify for the World Junior Athletics Championship believes that his young charge has the potential to run the 800 metres in a time just two seconds shy of the national record mark sooner rather than later.
“A lot in the 800 metres depends on how the first 400 metres is run. In a race that suits her pace, she has the potential to run the 800 metres in two minutes and four seconds or there around,” Fernando told The Island after Karunaratne qualified for the women’s 800 metres semi-finals at the World Junior Athletics Championship in Nairobi on Thursday. Fernando was not a part of the touring team.
Ratnayake Central, Walala runner Karunaratne secured a semifinal berth in the women’s 800 metres when she clocked 2:10.70 seconds in the second heat. In a race notable for its slow pace in the first 400 metres, Ethiopia’s Mebriht Mekonen breasted in a time of 2:08.62 seconds to win. In the World Athletics live-coverage Karunaratne was seen finishing fourth but disqualification of Cuba’s Daily Cooper Gaspar saw the Sri Lankan being promoted to third place.
Karunaratne’s race finishing time was ranked 17th among the 29 runners who competed in the four heats. She will be the only Asian competing in today’s two semi-finals. Shanika Lakshani who competed in the first heat was eliminated after finishing in fifth place.
Karunaratne also played a crucial part in Sri Lanka securing a final berth in the 4×400 metres mixed relay on Wednesday. “She was competing in the 800 metres heats after running two all-out 400 metres on Wednesday. Hope that she recovers fast for Friday’s semi-final. On her day she could run closer to the two minutes and four seconds mark,” said Fernando who is also the coach of South Asian Games triple gold medallist Dilshi Kumarasinghe.
Sri Lanka’s national record in the women’s 800 metres (2:02.52 seconds) is written against Dilshi Kumarasinghe’s name. Kumarasinghe created the mark in April this year.
Commenting on Karunaratne’s future potentials Fernando said: “Training is just a part of an athlete’s development plan. There are several other factors that determine the future of an athlete. The education of the athlete, nutrition, social and financial background of the family. All these areas have to be carefully looked after if an athlete is to succeed at senior level.”
Karunaratne who is 16 will be eligible to compete in the next edition of the World Junior Championships as well. Karunaratne emerged as a future prospect in 2019 when she won a number of junior age category events with new record marks.
Viran Chamuditha’s 94-ball 110 helped Sri Lanka Under 19 chase 262 and keep their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 alive. Sri Lanka will now have to hope Afghanistan lose to Ireland; otherwise, Afghanistan will go through. South Africa on the other hand, have lost all four of their games and are placed fifth in the six-team group.
The day began well for South Africa Under-19, who won the toss, chose to bat and added 96 for the first wicket. Once Vigneshwaran Akash got Adnaan Lagadien, Jorich Van Schalkwyk – the other opener – had to do the bulk of the scoring, with regular wickets falling at the other end.
Akash finished with a four-for and Kavija Gamage got two. There was a missed chance off Van Schalkwyk in the 21st over off Gamage, when he was on 50.
Van Schalkwyk made Sri Lanka pay with a 130-ball 116, featuring 13 fours and two sixes. After he fell, Paul James (37* off 36) and Michael Kruiskamp (21* off 15) gave South Africa a good finish, with an unbeaten 40-run stand off 31 balls.
Sri Lanka’s chase started shakily as Dimantha Mahavithana fell cheaply to Kruiskamp. Chamuditha then began a match-defining 143-run stand off 130 balls with Senuja Wekunagoda. Chamuditha contributed 85 of those run, and brought up his century during his stand with captain Vimath Dinsara, who chipped in with 32 off 38 balls.
Chamuditha finished with 13 boundaries and a six. After he fell, there were two handy partnerships of 31 and an unbeaten 28 between Chamika Heenatigala and Dulnith Sigera, which took Sri Lanka home with four overs to spare.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Under 19s 265 for 5 in 46 overs (Viran Chamuditha 110, Senuja Wekunagoda 48, Vimath Dinsara 32; M8chael Kruiskamp 2-59, Come Botha 2-37) beat South Africa Under 19s 261 for 7 in 50 overs (Jorich Van Schalkwyk 116, Adnaan Lagadien 46, Paul James 37* ; Vigneshwaran Akash 4-64, Kavija Gamage 2-61) by five wickets
Akash Vigneswaran celebrates a wicket with his team-mates, South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Under-19 World Cup, Bulawayo, January 29, 2026 (Cricinfo)
(Cricinfo)
Pavan Rathnayake has re-entered Sri Lanka’s T20I squad following his 121 off 115 balls in the third ODI against England. Omitted from the squad to play England in three T20Is, however, are fast bowler Nuwan Thushara and batting allrounder Kamindu Mendis. Legspinner Dushan Hemantha has also been left out.
Left-arm-spinning allrounder Dunith Wellalage retains his place in the T20I squad, though he hasn’t played a T20I since September. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga are the two other frontline spinners. Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka – who both bowl fingerspin – are in the squad too.
On the seam-bowling front, Eshan Malinga and Pramod Madushan are in the squad, in addition to Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana. Thushara had been a consistent presence in Sri Lanka’s T20I squads over the past two years, but his omission comes after several modest performances since September.
Aside from Rathnayake’s inclusion, the batting is largely as expected, with Kusal Perera coming back in the only format he now plays.
Sri Lanka are yet to announce their squad for the T20 World Cup, which will start on February 7. Teams have time till January 31 to make changes to squads, following which they will have to get the approvals from the ICC to make changes.
Sri Lanka squad for England T20Is:
Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga
Australia Under 19s 314/7 in 50 overs (Oliver Peake 109, Nitesh Samuel 56; Jakeem Pollard 2-37, R’Jai Gittens 2-45) beat West Indies Under 19s 292/9 in 50 overs (Zachary Carter 64, Joshua Dorne 62; Charles Lachmund 4-66, Aryan Sharma 2-47) by 22 runs
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