Tharushi Karunarathna, a promising Asian Games medallist, has seen her chances of qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, significantly hindered due to inadequate facilities provided by Sri Lanka Athletics officials.
During the 102nd National Athletics Championship 2024 held in Diyagama on Friday, Karunarathna competed in the Women’s 800m event under less-than-ideal conditions.
Heavy rains had left the running track waterlogged and flooded, impacting her performance.
Despite her coach's requests to delay the event and clear the water from the first lane of the track, which is crucial for optimal performance, officials proceeded with the competition.
As a result, Karunarathna, who had trained to achieve a time of 02:03:00, was only able to clock in at 02:04:22. This outcome jeopardizes her chances of securing a spot in the Paris Olympics.
Karunarathna's coach explained that had she been able to compete under suitable conditions, her world ranking could have improved to 39th. Instead, she only reached the 42nd rank due to the compromised circumstances. Only the top 48 athletes qualify for the Women’s 800m event in the Paris Olympics, with the qualification deadline looming on June 30, 2024.
With just two more days of qualifying competitions remaining worldwide, Karunarathna's Olympic hopes hang in the balance. Her coach expressed frustration, emphasizing that the situation could have been avoided if the athlete had been allowed to compete in appropriate conditions in Diyagama.
