Heartbreak for Yupun as he falls in 100m heats

Yupun Abeykoon (2743) in action  

By Susil Premalal

South Asia’s fastest sprinter and 2022 Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist Yupun Abeykoon pulled out from the Men’s 100m event at the 102nd Sri Lanka Athletic (SLA) National Championships, continued at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama yesterday.

The Italy-based athlete, competing in heat 3 of the Men’s 100m event was forced to withdraw after nearly 20 to 30 metres of the race due to cramps and will also miss the final, scheduled for today.       

“I think Yupun (Abeykoon) pulled out from the race due to a muscle injury and excessive sweating and now his last chance to qualify for the Olympics will be the special trial on June 30 at the Sugathadasa Stadium,” SLA President Major General (Retired) Palitha Fernando told the Daily Mirror yesterday.     

      Yupun Abeykoon pulled out from the race due to a muscle injury  

The deadline for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games athletics event is June 30 and the qualifying standard time set by the IAAF is 10.00s.

Meanwhile, Thilakshi Muthukumarana of the Army SC won the Women’s 100m event with a time of 12.03s.
Amasha de Silva (12.06s) and Lakshika Sugandi (12.10s) – both from the Army SC - secured second and third place respectively. 

Another Sri Lankan Olympic prospect and elite athlete Dilhani Lekamge won the Women’s javelin throw with a performance of 55.77m while Aruna Dharshana took the Men’s 400m with a time of 45.51s. In addition, Kalinga Kumarage came second in the Men’s 400m event with a time of 46.38s and Dinuka Deshan secured third place with a time of 46.50s. 

Nadeesha Ramanayake won the Women’s 400m (53.37s) and Nimali Liyanarachchi took the Women’s 1500m (4:24.11s).