Sports

Tharushi, Gayanthika, Nadeesha, Yupun eye Olympic qualifying standards in Dubai

Published

2 years ago

2024/05/2

by Reemus Fernando

Asian Games gold medallist Thrushi Karunaratne and former national record holder of the women’s 800 metres, Gayanthika Abeyratne, 400 metres sprinter Nadeesha Ramanayake and Italy based sprinter Yupun Abeykoon will vie for Paris Olympic Games qualifying standards when they compete against tough opponents at the Dubai Grand Prix on Friday.

Both Karunaratne and Abeyratne have not met each other on the track at a major competition after the Asian Games. On Friday, they will be aiming at the direct qualifying standard time of one minute and 59.30 seconds which no Sri Lankan woman has ever achieved.

There are 48 slots for the women’s 800 metres at the Paris Olympics. Of them 27 places are filled by athletes achieving the tough qualifying standards while the rest of the 21 places are filled according to world rankings. Currently Gayanthika Abeyratne is ranked 61st in the ‘Road to Paris 24’ rankings and she will be eager to improve on her standing. Karunaratne is yet to enter the list despite winning the Asian Games, Asian Championship and Asian Junior Championship titles last year.

The Sri Lankan duo will be chasing Kenyan born Bahrain runner Nelly Jepkosgei who has a seasonal best of 1:58.93 seconds heading into Friday’s World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event.

Abeyratne commenced the season with a moderate 2:06.12 seconds performance at the First Trial conducted by Sri Lanka Athletics in March. But it will be the first event of the season for Karunaratne whose national record mark of 2:00.66 seconds is likely to receive a beating.

Italy based sprinter Yupun Abeykoon is in red hot form following his 15.90 seconds dash in the 150 metres at the Florence Sprint Festival.

He had a similar feat before accomplishing the historic sub ten seconds performance in the 100 metres in 2022. The Olympic qualifying standard for men’s 100 metres is 10 seconds.

Asian Championship gold medallist Nadeesha Ramanayake had a 53.22 seconds start at the recently held Trial. She has a tough ask as 50.95 is the qualifying standard set for Paris Olympics.

All News Advertisement

Up Next

Ruturaj and Deshpande star as Chennai Super Kings hand Sunrisers Hyderabad a thumping

Don't Miss

Sri Lanka reaps rewards for banking on homegrown rugby coaches

Click to comment

Sports

Arachchige, Rathnayake and Malinga pump Jaffna

Published

9 hours ago

2026/07/24

Priyan

A 36 ball 63 by Sahan Arachchige and three wickets each by Eshan Malinga [3-13] and Tharindu Rathnayake [3-19] helped Galle Gallants defeat Jaffna Kings by 60 runs in the 10th match of the Lanka Premier League 2026. Galle Gallants lead the points table with three wins from four outings.

Scores:
Galle Gallants 193/8 in 20 overs [Chris Lynn 46, Sahan Arachchige 63, Dasun Shanaka 12, Dinura Kalupahana 10, Mohammad Nawaz 27; Mohamed Shiraz 1-23, Dunith Wellalage 1-13, Shakib Al Hasan 1-27, Dilshan Madushanaka 2-35, Lizaad Williams 2-37]

Jaffna Kings 133 in 17.5 overs [Kamil Mishara 15, Ibrahim Zadran 11, David Weise 22, Dunith Wellalage 56; Dasun Shanaka 1-21, Tharindu Rathnayake 3-19, Akif Javed 1-22, Eshan Malinga 3-13, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 1-32]

Sports

Hermann, Liyanage and Mujeeb steer Colombo Kaps to a 23 run win

Published

9 hours ago

2026/07/24

Priyan

Janith Liyanage scored an unbeaten 52 [LPL]

Half centuries by Rubin Hermann and Janith Liyanage and a three wicket haul by Mujeeb Ur Rahman helped Colombo Kaps defeat Kandy Royals by 24 runs in the 9th match of the Lanka Premier League 2026 played at Dambulla on Thursday [23rd July]’

Scores:
Colombo Kaps 192/9 in 20 overs [Rubin Hermann 53, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 14, Janith Liyanage 52*, James Neesham 24, Binura Fernando 21; Vijay Shankar 1-0, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-34, Nuwan Thushara 1-31, Moeen Ali 2-31, Dushan Hemantha 2-20]

Kandy Royals 169/8 in 20 overs [Kusal Perera 19, Dale Phillips 38, Vijay Shankar 30, Angelo Mathews 39*, Dushan Hemantha 11*; Shahnawaz Dahani 1-35, Wanuja Sahan 1-24, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3-34, Malsha Tharupathi 1-29, James Neesham 1-07]

Sports

Sri Lanka edge Qatar in Davis Cup opener

Published

16 hours ago

2026/07/24

Thilina Walpola

Hosts Sri Lanka made a winning start to their Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group IV campaign, edging out Qatar 2-1 in a closely contested opening-day tie at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts in Colombo on Wednesday.

The visitors struck first when Mubarak Alharrasi defeated Sri Lanka’s Apna Perera 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in a hard-fought opening singles encounter, giving Qatar an early 1-0 lead.

Sri Lanka bounced back in the second singles as Thehan Wijemanne produced a spirited comeback to overcome Mossa Alharrasi 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. After dropping the opening set, Wijemanne showed great composure to win the next two sets and level the tie at 1-1.

The decisive doubles match proved to be a tense affair, with Apna Perera returning to partner Saha Kapilasena. The Sri Lankan duo held their nerve in two tie-breaks to defeat Jabar Al Mutawan and Mossa Alharrasi 7-6, 7-6, sealing the tie 2-1 for the hosts.

Sri Lanka’s ability to recover from the opening singles defeat highlighted the team’s resilience as Wijemanne’s comeback victory and the doubles pair’s clutch performance ensured a successful start to their campaign. The hosts will now look to build on the opening-day victory as they continue their quest for promotion in the Asia/Oceania Group IV competition.