Dharshana’s mistake costs Sri Lanka first Asian Games athletics medal after 17 years

Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser (R) crosses the finish line to win the race for her team in the 4 x 400m relay mixed final athletics event 

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka missed its chance to win a first Asian Games athletics medal in 17 years when a lane infringement by Aruna Dharshana resulted in the country’s 4x400m Mixed Relay team being disqualified, moments after securing the Silver medal.

Darshana, running the first lap of the relay in lane three, stepped over the line onto lane two just as he was handing the baton over to Nadeesha Ramanayake, resulting in officials disqualifying the team.
Sri Lanka, whose quartet also included Kalinga Kumarage and Tharushi Dissanayake, clocked a time of 3 minutes 14.25 seconds to be placed second in the event.

Bahrain (3:14.02) won the gold medal, while India (3:14.34s) were awarded silver and Kazakhstan (3:24.85) upgraded from fourth to bronze.

Sri Lanka last won an Asian Games medal at the 2006 Doha Games when Susanthika Jayasinghe brought home a silver and a bronze medal and the 4x400m Men’s relay team comprising Rohan Pradeep Kumara, Rohitha Pushpakumara, Prasanna Amarasekara and Asoka Jayasundara won a bronze.

Yesterday was the fourth day of the athletics competition at the Asian Games, with the track and field events ending on October 5.