2 weeks Ago By Thilina Walpola
Reigning national champion in the men’s 800 metres, Harsha Karunaratne has requested Sri Lanka Athletics and the Ministry of Sports to provide him with the opportunity to compete in the upcoming Indian Grand Prix 2 utilizing his own funds in a bid to produce a top performance. Sri Lanka Athletics did not pick Karunaratne for the South Asian Athletics Championship which has now been postponed after being placed second at the selection trial. He had competed within a week after recovering from an illness.
His non selection sparked controversy prompting his coach Susantha Fernando to vehemently criticize the track and field governing body. G.K.
Chathuranga who won the event at the selection trial held early last month and second placed Karunaratne were separated only by milliseconds. While Chathuranga returned a time of 1:49.89 seconds, Karunaratne clocked 1:49.
98 seconds. In his letter addressed to the Sports Minister, the Director of Sports and Sri Lanka Athletics Karunaratne requests the authorities to mediate on his behalf to take part in the Indian Grand Prix 2 taking place in Thrivendram, India on May 17.Karunaratne has stated that he has no opportunity in Sri Lanka now to prove that he has the ability to produce a better timing.
“ “I am confident that I have the ability to run below 1:48.00. But there is no opportunity for me to produce such a feat here in SriLanka,” states Karunaratne in his letter.
“I am greatfull to you if you could provide me with the opportunity. I am ready to bear the full cost.” Athletes need the approval of the governing body of the sport of their country to take part in such events .
The country’s top athletes receive Sri Lanka Athletics mediation to take part in overseas competitions. . Taking part in such competetive events has stood in good stead for a number of athletes to improve their rankings.
The former Ratnayake Central Walala athlete is the elder brother of Asian Games gold medallist Tharushi Karunaratne. Like his sister, Harsha too excelled at international competitions when he was a youth athlete.He won a silver medal in the 800 metres at the Asian Youth Championships in Bangkok in 2017 before emerging as a top national athlete.
by Reemus Fernando.
