Kalinga Kumarage to lead Sri Lanka at World Championship in Hungary
(Seated from left): Kalinga Kumarage (Captain), Harjan Rathnayaka (Team coach), Ajitha Naragala (Team Manager), Maj. Gen. Palitha Fernando (President SLA), Saman Kumara Gunawardana (Secretary General SLA), Irangani Rupasinghe (Team Official) (Standing from left): Pabasara Niku, Dinuka Deshan, Rajitha Rajakaruna, Pasindu Kodikara, Aruna Darshana, Dilhani Lekamge
Ace sprinter Kalinga Kumarage will lead the seven-member Sri Lanka team at the World Athletics Championships 2023 which will be held from August 19 to 27 in Budapest, Hungary. Kumarage, who is in his prime form after the recent success at the concluded Asian Athletics Championship, will compete in the Men’s 400m as well as the Men’s 4x400m Relay which also includes fellow sprinter Aruna Darshana, who earned direct qualification for the world event.
Thrower Dilhani Lekamge also has earned her spot for the event, while Gayanthika Abeyratne, who won a gold medal at the Asian Championship, has withdrawn from the team despite qualifying. Abeyratne cited that she is focusing on the Asian Games, which will be held next month in China.
Lekamge, currently ranked among the top 36 in the world, will be the third javelin thrower to represent Sri Lanka at the World Championship after Nadeeka Lakmali and Waruna Lakshan.
Dharshana, initially ranked at 53rd globally, bettered his standing to come among the top 48 in the Men’s 400m in the world.