By Susil Premalal  

Hangzhou 800m Asian Games Gold Medallist Tharushi Karunarathna set an Asian Continental record in the Women’s 600m event at the Bilbao International Invitational Track and Field Athletic Meet in Spain.  

Karunarathna, participating in a Women’s 600m event for the first time, returned a time of 1:24.84s and went on to secure second place in this event.   

The meet was held targeting the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France. The previous Women’s 600m Women’s Asian Continental record of 1:28.06s was held by Ayano Shomi of Japan in 2022.  

Meanwhile, Bender Oboya of Australia with a time of 1:24.53s won first place while Maria de Lima of Brazil clocked 1:25.34s to claim third place.  

Kalinga Kumarage, participating in the Men’s 400m event, had to be content with third place with a time of 45.91s.  

Sri Lanka’s elite athletes had the opportunity of participating in seven international meets but no Sri Lankan athlete has so far qualified to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.  

According to the IAAF World Athletic Rankings Dilhani Lekamge (Women’s javelin throw) is in 30th position, Tharushi Karunarathna (Women’s 800m) is in 45th position, Kalinga Kumarage (Men’s 400m) is in 53rd position and Aruna Dharshana (Men’s 400m) is in 54th position.  

The deadline for the Paris Olympics Athletic Qualification is June 30.  

The 102nd National Athletic Championship (June 27 to 29) at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Sports Complex in Diyagama and the Athletic Special Meet (June 30) at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo will be the last chance for Sri Lanka’s elite athletes to reach the Olympic Qualifying standard.  

It will also be the last opportunity for South Asia’s fastest sprinter and Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist Yupun Abeykoon.