Day Four of the 26th Asian Athletics Championships Unfolds in South Korea
The fourth day of the 26th Asian Athletics Championships, currently underway in South Korea, took place on May 30th, featuring a number of Sri Lankan athletes representing the nation on the international stage.
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Among the standout performances of the day were Sumedha Ranasinghe and Rumesh Tharanga, who are considered two of Sri Lanka’s best medal hopes in this year’s competition. Both athletes competed in the Men’s Javelin Throw, one of the most anticipated events for Sri Lankan fans.
Javelin Duo Advance to Finals – Hopes Remain High
Representing Sri Lanka, Rumesh Tharanga delivered a stellar performance during the qualification round, recording a throw of 83.71 meters, which secured him a place in the final. His compatriot, Sumedha Ranasinghe, also earned a spot in the finals with a commendable throw of 81.33 meters.
Among the total field of competitors in the event, Rumesh secured second place, while Sumedha ranked fourth, further heightening Sri Lanka’s medal prospects as they advance to the final round scheduled for this day, May 31st.
The top position in the qualification round was claimed by the familiar name of Arshad Nadeem, the current Olympic champion, who threw a distance of 86.34 meters.
Kalinga Kumarage Progresses in 200m but Misses Semifinal
In the Men’s 200 meters, Sri Lanka’s Kalinga Kumara competed in Heat 3 of the preliminary round. He finished secondin his heat with a time of 21.73 seconds, successfully qualifying for the semifinal round.
However, despite earning a spot, Kalinga did not participate in the semifinal event held later in the day. The reason for his absence has not been officially disclosed.
Men’s 4×100m Relay: Medal Hopes Dashed
The Men’s 4×100 meters relay also took place earlier this morning. Representing Sri Lanka in the first heat were Chamod Disanayake, Chamod Yodhasinghe, Dineeth Induwara, and Yupun Abeykoon.
Tragically, Sri Lanka’s campaign came to a premature end due to a botched baton exchange during the third handover. As a result, the team was unable to complete the race, thus losing a potential shot at a medal in the relay event. This really captures just how unpredictable the world of track is, and although this was a missed opportunity, we hope the Sri Lankan team will only come back stronger.
Yupun Abeykoon Explains Absence in Individual Events
Sri Lanka’s star sprinter Yupun Abeykoon, who traveled from Italy to South Korea to participate in the championships, was notably absent from the Men’s 100 meters and 200 meters events.
In a post shared on social media later in the day, Yupun clarified the situation. He stated that his absence was not due to any injury, but rather due to unavoidable delays during his travel from Italy, which caused him to miss the 100m event.
Additionally, Yupun had initially planned to participate in the 200m and serve as a backup for the 4×100m relay. However, an unexpected injury to one of the alternate athletes forced him to shift focus entirely to the relay event, which unfortunately ended in disappointment due to the baton exchange error.
May 31st marks the final day of the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships. The highlight for Sri Lankan fans will undoubtedly be the Men’s Javelin Throw Final, where both Rumesh Tharanga and Sumedha Ranasinghe will compete for a podium finish. We wish them all the best.
Other key events scheduled for the day include the Men’s and Women’s 4×100m relay finals and several other exciting finals across various disciplines.
Stay connected with ThePapare — Sri Lanka’s No. 1 sports platform — for all the latest updates, results, and behind-the-scenes stories from the Championships as well as access to the world of Athletics.
