Sri Lankan trio qualify for World Athletics Championships

Sri Lanka’s Gayanthika Abeyrathna (1500m), Dilhani Lekamge (javelin) and Aruna Darshana (400m) have qualified for individual events at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, it was announced yesterday, having been on the qualification waiting list. 

This is the first time a Sri Lankan woman athlete is participating in the 1500m at a World Championship and second overall after Chaminda Wijekoon in 2011. 

This will be second time that Abeyrathna will take part at the World Championships, joining Susanthika Jayasinghe, Damayanthi Darsha and Sriyani Kulawansha as the only women athletes to represent the country at the World Championships more than once. 

Lekamge joins the books as only the second woman thrower and third overall to participate in the World Championships. 

Nadeeka Lakmali was the first thrower to compete at the Championships and qualified for the final event in 2013. 

Waruna Lakshan is the only male thrower who has represented Sri Lanka at the World Championships. 

Lekamge is currently in the top 36 athletes in the world for her event.

Dharshana, who was initially in 53rd position has been upgraded into the top 48, and thereby qualified to participate in the 400m individual event as well as the 4x400m event. 

It is the first time since 2005 that a Sri Lankan athlete has qualified for the men’s 400m event, the last being Prasanna Amarasekara. 

Sri Lanka Athletics had pre-entered its athletes for the World Championships, having seen a possibility that they could qualify for the Championships.  

World Athletics officially confirmed the list of athletes last morning with SL Athletics.

This will be the second largest contingent (eight) that Sri Lanka has sent for the World Championship.