Sri Lankan athletes produced uninspired performances at the 23rd Asian Athletic Championships in Doha yesterday, with two of the prime hopes for medals finishing outside the podium. 

Nimali Liyanarachchi and Gayanthika Abeyrathne, who won gold and silver at the last championships in 2017, finished seventh and fourth respectively in the Women’s 800m event yesterday, leaving the country in search of a medal following two days of competition.

Gomathi Marimuthu of India won the event in a time of 2:02.70 secs, ahead of Wang Chunyu of China (2:02.96 secs) and Margarita Mukash eva of Kazakhstan (2:03.90 secs).

Abeyrathne finished almost a full two seconds behind the podium finishers, while Liyanarachchi completed the event in 
2:08.69 secs. 

In other events, Himasha Eshan failed to book a place in the finals, after he came fifth in his Men’s 100m semi-final, with a time of 10:51 secs, while Sumedha Ranasinghe finished a disappointing eighth place in the Men’s Javelin final having thrown a distance of 73.50m. Greshan Dhananjaya finished sixth in the Men’s Triple Jump event, having leapt a distance of 16.14m. 

Five athletes will take part today, with Eshan running in the Men’s 200m event and Damith Hemantha taking part in the men’s 1500m event. 

Prasad Wimalasiri and Dhanushka Sandaruwan will take part in the Men’s Long Jump Qualification Round while Nilani Rathnayake takes part in the Women’s 3000m event.