Thiwanka Perera a jump away from Olympic qualification

Ushan Thiwanka Perera (File photo)

By Susil Premalal

Ushan Thiwanka Perera is a step away from qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 after renewing his Sri Lanka high jump record at the 2021 Lone Star Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, in Texas. 
The US-based Sri Lanka athlete representing Texas A&M University-Commerce set a new record of 2.30 metres to win the men’s high jump event at the outdoor championships. Guillaume Devries of West Texas A&M was placed second clearing 2.17m while Perera’s team mate Micky Ferdinand was third with a jump of 2.06m.
Thiwanka broke the Sri Lanka high jump record of 2.27m held by Manjula Kumara Wijesekera since 2004 in March this year.

The 23-year-old is closing on the Olympic qualifying standard of 2.33m in the high jump. He broke the South Asian high jump record of 2.29m and also holds the Sri Lanka indoor high jump record of 2.26m.  A product of Maris Stella, Negombo, Thiwanka is on a scholarship at the Texas A&M University-Commerce, where he is training and following higher studies.