High jumper Manjula Kumara Wijesekera made a miraculous return to the track after being diagnosed with dengue just six weeks back to win the final leg of the Asian Grand Prix and set his sights on the World Championships qualifying mark here at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.
With this, the undisputed national champion sounded a warning that his best is yet to come.
Deprived of the first two legs of the Grand Prix in Thailand as he missed the selection trial due his health condition, Wijesekara cleared 2.24 metres which he had been doing more often than not in recent history with ease.
But his attempt at the 2.28 mark, the world qualifying height, proved futile.
Though his performance was not as convincing as when he was at his best eight years back when he won gold at the Asian Championship in South Korea in 2005 clearing 2.27 metres, Wijesekera proved he is still the country’s best high jumper.
“It was not the perfect day. I made a few mistakes initially which prevented me from raising the bar. But it was a good performance considering that I am returning after a break”, said the six-footer.
Wijesekera suffered a near death blow to his health six weeks back when he was diagnosed with dengue and missed the national trial. Subsequently he was dropped from the first two legs of the Asian Grand Prix before been drafted into the final edition at home.
“It’s been too long that I have not yet achieved my best and I am confident I will do that pretty soon,” he said.
The 29-year-old athlete is left with just one more chance to qualify for the World Championship which requires him to go one step ahead of his personal best.
“My initial goal is the Asian Championship gold and to qualify for the world meet,” he said.
