by Reemus Fernando

Sri Lanka are among the medal contenders in at least one event but qualifying for the Paris Olympics in relays will be a Herculean task for the islanders when they compete against Asia’s best at the 1st Asian Relays in Thailand on Monday and Tuesday.

After 14 out of the 16 spots for Paris Olympics in every relay were secured by top teams at the World Relays in Bahamas it will be a tough task for any Asian team to grab the final two positions for the world showpiece event starting in less than ten weeks’ time.

It is the first time that the Asian Relay Championship is being held and it provides a valuable opportunity for Asian teams to fight for medals and the last two Olympic spots in every relay.

The absence of two key members of the Asian Championship relay medal winning teams is going to hurt Sri Lanka badly. Asian Games gold medallist Tharushi Karunaratne is skipping the championship on medical grounds. The 400 metres specialist Nadeesha Ramanayake has been on a busy schedule with little time for training. She has struggled to reach her usual best during the last two competitions in Dubai and Osaka. That will put the women’s 4×400 team under pressure secure a place on the podium.

There were huge expectation on the men’s 4×400 metres team after they established a meet record to win the gold medal at the Asian Championship last year. They are without Rajitha Rajakaruna who ran a vital leg in that record breaking performance. But others have struck form. Kalinga Kumarage who is set to join the team after back to back competitions in Japan and Aruna Dharshana are among top 400 metres sprinters in Asia. They missed the World Relays after the US embassy in Colombo waited till the eleventh hour to issue transit visas for their trip to the Bahamas. The men’s 4×400 metres team has to produce a super-fast time better than the current national record if they are to secure a relay spot in Paris. Currently France (2:58.45) and Zambia (2:59.12) are occupying the 15th and 16th spots in the ‘Road to Paris’ rankings. Ousting them from those positions and joining fellow Asian teams Japan and India in Paris will be a huge accomplishment. However, they are in contention for a medal in Thailand.

Both the Sri Lanka women’s and men’s 4×100 metres, teams are without their top sprinters. While Yupun Abeykoon is pursuing for an Olympic berth in the individual event competing in Europe, Amasha de Silva withdrew from the relay team on medical grounds.

Teams for Asian Relays

Men’s 4X100m: RPKN Chathuranga, Dineth Induwara, Chamod Yodasinghe, Chanuka Dharmakeerthi, DPH Gamlath, Dineth Senanayake.

Women 4X100m: Shafiya Yamic, Rumeshika Rathnayake, Dinara Bandara Dela, Anuruddika Muthukumarana, Dilushani Silva, Medhani Jayamanme.

Men’s 4X400m: Kalinga Kumarage, Aruna Darshana, Dinuka Deshan, Pasindu Kodikara, Pabasara Niku, Isuru Lakshan.

Women’s 4X400m: Nadeesha Ramanayake, Rumeshika Rathnayake, Sayuri Mendis, Nishendra Fernando, Shafiya Yammick