Meteoric rise of Chathuranga brings medal hopes
Medal predictions in sports often go awry. When it comes to track and field sports the factors affecting performance are so many that favourties sometimes eat humble pie and underdogs triumph. So statistics – personal bests- could be misleading. But if recent performances of Rusiru Chathuranga, an underdog until last year’s National Athletics Championship, are of any indication, the Army athlete has what it takes to challenge leading contenders at the 23rd Asian Athletics Championship which starts in a week’s time in Doha, Qatar.
He was not even in the radar of National selectors a couple of years ago.
The athlete trained by H.M.R. Hennayake had won only a third place previously. At the National Championship in 2018 he made a stunning final straight burst to clinch gold from no where in the men’s 800 metres.
True, the leading contender Indunil Herath was absent. But he displayed during his final sprint that he possessed that burning desire to win. He pipped a strong field to win in a time of 1:51.30 seconds. More than the timing, what caught the eye of the enthusiasts was the late sprint performance that took other contenders off guard.
That performance earned him a place in the team for the Vietnam Open Athletics Championships. And he did not disappoint there as he reached his personal best (1:49.00 secs) on his way to qualifying for the final. He was placed second in the final.
With several international events happening this year Chathuranga announced his ambitions of Sri Lanka representation with a 1:50.47 seconds performance to finish first in the first selection trial held in February. Later he confirmed his credentials with a 1:48.10 seconds finish.
At the last two editions the gold medal of the men’s 800 metres went to performances of 1:49.47 seconds (Ebrahim Al-Zofairi of Kuwait in 2017) and 1:49.40 seconds (Musaeb Abdulrahman Balla of Qatar in 2015).
On this back drop what could be expected? “I think I am still improving and am hoping and working for a medal with my coach,” Chathuranga said.
Chathuranga was a 1,500 metres runner when he was attending Miriswatta MV. He was first coached by Sunimal Manamperi.
He came under H.M.R. Hennayake after he joined Army. He has his training partner Damith Hemantha Kumara also making it to the team for the 1,500 metres on the back for a strong 3:45.48 seconds feat at the trials.
Hemantha Kumara’s recent performance is also in the medal range. The Athletics Association of Sri Lanka set the average medal performance of the last few Asian Championships as the selection criteria.
Whether they win medals or not the presence of these athletes at the regional championships will augur well for the middle distance runners. Once a dominant force in Asia in short and middle distance events the country has shown a shift in the trend of late. Country’s 800 metres runners in the women’s category Nimali Liyanarachchi and Gayanthika Abeyratne bagged the gold and silver respectively at the last edition. They are once again favourites. That’s a story for another day.
