Tharanga set to qualify for World Athletic Meet

By Susil Premalal

Sri Lanka’s leading javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga is set to qualify for the upcoming World Athletics Championship in Japan, according to Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) President Major General (Retd) Palitha Fernando.
Tharanga cleared 85.41 metres with a meet record at the Perth Classic Athletics Meet in Australia. This performance was the best effort this year by an international athlete.
“Tharanga missed direct qualification for the World Championships by 9cm and we hope that he can reach the qualification distance of 85.50m at the next competition in Sydney,” Fernando added.
Tharanga, who had thrown 80.60m in his first attempt, failed in his second and third attempts before posting 85.41m in his fourth attempt.
Japan’s Rin Suzuki finished second with 81.23m while Japan’s Yuta Sakiyama (80.86m) was placed third.
Tharanga had already thrown 82.66m in Perth last month and he has another chance to surpass this standard in the next competition to be held in Sydney.