The second day of the 26th Asian Athletics Championship, unfolded on the 28th of May with thrilling performances from athletes across the continent. Among them, Sri Lanka’s athletes delivered standout performances, bringing pride to the nation with two bronze medals and several other notable efforts on the track.
Chamod Yodasinghe: Just a Fraction Away from Finals
Sprinter Chamod Yodasinghe, who secured a strong victory in the men’s 100m heats yesterday and qualified for the semifinals, returned to the track with confidence today. Competing in the third semifinal heat, Chamod clocked a time of 10.46 seconds, finishing third in his race. Unfortunately, despite his commendable effort, he missed out on qualifying for the finals by mere milliseconds.
Later in the evening, the men’s 100m final saw Japan’s Hiroki Yanagita claim the gold medal with a blistering time of 10.194 seconds, while China emerged victorious in the women’s 100m event.
Kalinga Kumarage Makes History After 18 Years
One of the most emotional highlights for Sri Lanka came in the men’s 400m final, where Kalinga Kumarage delivered a sensational performance. Surpassing his own previous best, Kalinga clocked 45.55 seconds, winning the bronze medal and breaking an 18-year medal drought in this event for Sri Lanka.
The last time Sri Lanka stood on the podium for the men’s 400m at the Asian Championship was back in 2007, when Prasanna Sampath Amarasena clinched gold. Kalinga’s achievement, therefore, not only earned Sri Lanka a valuable medal but also rewrote a chapter in our nation’s athletics history.
Nadeesha’s Medal Dreams Fall Short
Reigning champion in the women’s 400m, Nadeesha Ramanayake, who won gold at the previous edition of the championship, also made it to the final again this year. However, she could only manage eighth place with a time of 54.70 seconds, missing out on a podium finish this time around. However, we commend her on her efforts.
Bronze in the Mixed 4×400m Relay After Drama
Sri Lanka added another bronze to its tally in the mixed 4×400m relay final held today. The team comprising Kalinga Kumarage, Sadev Rajakaruna, Sayuri Mendis, and Nishendra Fernando battled fiercely to claim third place.
Interestingly, Aruna Darshana and Nadeesha Ramanayake, both experienced sprinters, did not participate in this event.
In a dramatic twist, both China, who won silver, and the Sri Lankan team were initially disqualified for violating Technical Rule 24.20, relating to exchange zones. However, after an appeal and review by the organizers, the decision was reversed, and both countries were reinstated and awarded their respective medals.
What to Expect Tomorrow (May 29)
The third day of competition promises even more excitement for Sri Lankan fans. Scheduled events include:
* Women’s 10,000m final
* Men’s 4×400m heats
* Men’s High Jump Final, featuring Lasantha Arthavidu**
Additionally, the day will conclude with the women’s and men’s 4×400m relay finals, offering further medal opportunities for Sri Lanka.
The Current Medal Standing
With two bronze medals secured—one in the men’s 400m and the other in the mixed 4×400m relay, Sri Lanka currently sits at 9th place on the overall medal table. The nation’s athletes continue to showcase resilience, skill, and determination on the continental stage.
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