Abeykoon targets semi-final spot in Birmingham
Sri Lanka could easily pin hopes of a possible medal from Yupun Abeykoon
Abeykoon, based in Italy, has made vast strides in recent months, becoming the first South Asian athlete to break the 10-second barrier in the 100m sprint. He clocked 9.96 secs prior to the World Championships and possesses a realistic chance of making into the semis at least, though he would dream big.
“My main goal is to reach the semi-finals of the 100m event and thereafter, try and win a medal after reaching the last eight competitors,” the fastest athlete in South Asia told the Sunday Times yesterday.
Abeykoon arrived in Birmingham yesterday after completing a successful training session in Milano, Italy ahead of the track and field events of the Commonwealth Games, which begins at the Alexander Stadium on August 2. Sri Lanka will be fielding three men and three women athletes at the Commonwealth Games track and field events which concludes on August 7.
“It is difficult for any top athlete to win at every international meet and improve on the personal best performance, but I am proud that I got this chance to compete at the Commonwealth Games after a long layoff,” Abeykoon stressed.
However, Abeykoon failed to better his personal best of 9.96secs at the World Athletic Championships, held in Oregon, US recently.
“I did not have the best of preparations for the World Championships in the USA due to an issue with my air tickets but now I am fresh after a good training programme and will try and win a medal for the country,” Abeykoon revealed.
Apart from Abeykoon, women’s 800m runner Gayanthika Abeyratne will also be in action at 16.15 hours where she would look to better her performances at the 2018 Games. Abeyratne clocked 2:04.72 seconds in Gold Coast but has shown a remarkable improvement recording 2:01.44 seconds in April this year.
Apart from those two, Sri Lankan track and field team includes Kalinga Kumarage (Men’s 400m), Sumeda Ranasinghe (Men’s javelin), Nilani Rathnayaka (Women’s 3,000m steeplechase) and Sarangi de Silva (Women’s long jump).
Sri Lanka Athletics is hopeful of winning at least two medals, one from Abeykoon and Sarangi de Silva. The latter skipped this month’s World Championships to concentrate on the Commonwealth Games.
“These two got a great opportunity to win medals,” said Saman Kumara Gunawardena, the statistic recorder of Sri Lanka Athletics.
Sarangi recorded a seasonal best of 6.65 metres this year and would fancy her chances even though there are several athletes who have recorded far better performances than her this season. Kulawansa, the best ever female hurdler Sri Lanka has ever produced, won silver at the 1998 games while Thilakaratne won the 400m silver, clocking a 44.64secs in the 400m dash.