Yupun targets SLA Nationals for Olympic spot

By Susil Premalal

South Asia’s fastest sprinter and 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist Yupun Abeykoon will arrive in Sri Lanka today, Sri Lanka Athletic (SLA) sources revealed yesterday.
The Italy-based athlete is Sri Lanka’s biggest prospect for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and will participate in the SLA-organised 102nd Athletic Nationals from June 25–27 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama.
Abeykoon will also compete in the SLA Olympic Qualification Special Athletic Meet on June 30 at the Sugathadasa Stadium 
in Colombo.

This will be the final chance for Abeykoon to reach the Olympic qualifying standards (10.00s) set by the IAAF before the deadline on June 30, SLA President Major General (Rtd.) Palitha Fernando told the Daily Mirror yesterday.
In fact, Abeykoon will be competing in a men’s 100m event in Sri Lanka after a lapse of five years, having last made his previous appearance in 2019.
Abeykoon is currently placed in the 78th position according to the IAAF Olympic Rankings, while only the top 56 athletes will be selected for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games men’s 100m event.
Abeykoon has so far participated in four international events since April 2024, and his seasonal best time of 10.15s was recorded at the 2024 Anhalt Athletic Meet in 
Dessau, Germany.
Earlier, he finished the UAE Grand Prix Men’s 100m event in Dubai, UAE, with a time of 10.18s to secure third place and clocked 10.21s to finish fourth at the 2024 Roma Sprint Festival in Italy.
Abeykoon missed the early part of the 2024 season due to an injury and started his Road to Olympics campaign by winning the 150m event at the 2024 Florence Sprint Festival in Italy while clocking his second fastest time ever, finishing 
in 15.19s.
In fact, Abeykoon holds the Asian record for the men’s 150m event by completing it with a time of 15.16s.
Meanwhile, Dilhani Lekamge (women’s javelin throw), Tharushi Karunarathna (women’s 800m), Kalinga Kumarage (men’s 400m), and Aruna Dharshana (men’s 400m) are also set to participate in the Athletic Nationals to boost their chances for the 2024 Paris 
Olympic Games.
According to the current IAAF Olympic Rankings, Lekamge is in the 30th position, Karunarathna is placed 47th, Dharshana is 53rd, and Kumarage sits at 54th.
Despite failing to achieve direct qualifications for the Olympics, Lekamge and Karunarathna have already booked their tickets to Paris under the IAAF 
Olympic Rankings.
However, due to the busy international schedule in track and field events, the final list of athletes who have qualified for the Paris Olympics will be announced after June 30.
No Sri Lankan athlete has so far managed to secure a direct spot at the Paris Olympic Games.