Thrower Rumesh Tharanga has climbed up to the 13th position in the world rankings in the men’s javelin throw according to the latest rankings updated by World Athletics. It is the highest position a Sri Lankan has reached after the introduction of the current world ranking system in 2019.

While improving on the rankings he has also improved on the ‘Road to Tokyo 25’ rankings which determines the qualified athletes for the World Championships in September. With Tharanga and Sumeda Ranasinghe listed among the top 20 in that list there is going to be a heavy presence of South Asians in the javelin throw at the World Championships. That is a contrasting scenario as South Asians found it hard to earn qualifying standards for this discipline dominated by European athletes less than a decade ago.

The ‘Road to Tokyo 25’ list is headed by Indian superstar Neraj Chopra who has an average performance score of 1445 points. Alongside the defending champion there are two other Indians. Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem who is second in the list and the two Sri Lankans make a strong presence of South Asians.

The winning performance at last week’s 103rd National Athletics Championship has helped Tharanga earn 1235 ranking points to remain in contention for a World Championship spot. Sumeda Ranasinghe’s national record throw of 85.78 metres in March has earned him direct qualification for the World Championships, while Tharanga gets a valuable opportunity to strive for direct qualifying standards when he competes at the World Athletics Bronze lable meet starting in Bhubaneswar India today.

Tharanga and Ranasinghe will both compete at the meet with the hope of cementing their positions in the ‘Road to Tokyo 25’ list. The two throwers are Sri Lanka’s only ranked athletes for next month’s world event.

Italy based sprinter Yupun Abeykoon has made steady progress this year in the 100 metres. But with the deadline (August 24) to achieve qualifying standards fast approaching his chances of qualifying hangs by a thread. So are the chances of 100metres national champion Chamod Yodasinghe, who too is among athletes taking part in the bronze lable meet in India.

Sri Lanka are fielding a team of nine athletes, including a men’s 4×400 metres relay team for the meet in Bhubaneswar. Kalhara Idupa Silva, Omel Shashintha, Sadew Rajakaruna and Inesh Dishmitha form the relay team.

Thrower Dilhani Lekamge and 400 metres sprinter Nishendra Fernando are the others in the team.

Sri Lanka team:

Men’s:

Chamod Yodasinghe (100m), Sumedha Ranasinghe (javelin), Rumesh Tharanga (javelin), Kalhara Idupa (400m,4X400m), Omel Shashintha (4X400m), Sadew Rajakaruna (4X400m) Inesh Dishmitha (4X400m)

Women’s:

Nishendra Fernando (400m), Dilhani Lekamge (javelin)

by Reemus Fernando