Sri Lanka is represented by a 6-member strong Track and Field squad at the Commonwealth Games 2022 which is being held in Birmingham, England from 28 July to 8 August 2022.
The squad consists 3 men and 3 women who will participate in 7 events. The headline maker of the Sri Lanka athletics over the last 12 months, Yupun Abeykoon (100m), quarter-miler Kalinga Kumarage (400m) and Olympian Sumedha Ranasinghe (Javelin Throw) will compete for Commonwealth medal glory alongside middle distance runner Gayanthika Abeyratne (800m & 1500m), steeplechaser Nilani Ratnayake (3000m SC) and Long Jumper Sarangi Silva.
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It is an encouraging sign that four of these athletes qualified for the recently concluded World Athletics Championship held in Oregon, USA. Abeykoon, Abeyratne and Ratnayake participated in the Championship but couldn’t progressed past the first round of their respective events while Long Jumper Silva didn’t participate in the Championships, choosing instead to train towards the Birmingham Games .
Originally, Sri Lanka athletics announced an 8-member squad for the Commonwealth Games 2022 but later omitted the name of long-distance runner Hiruni Wijayaratne while the USA based high jumper Ushan Thiwanka opted out due to personal reasons.
History
Sri Lanka has only won 3 Track and Field medals in the Commonwealth Games so far. The first Olympic Medalist of Sri Lanka, Duncan White also won Sri Lanka’s first medal in Athletics at the Commonwealth Games in 1950.
1998 was the best year for Sri Lanka Athletics in Commonwealth Games history as Sriyani Kulawansa and Sugath Thilakaratne secured two more medals. After 1998, Sri Lanka has failed to secure any Athletics medals at the Games.
Current Form
The current track and field squad will have a tough task ahead if they are to make the podium in Birmingham as the top most nations that excel in Athletics such as Jamaica, Kenya, England, Australia will also be part of this competition. However, Sri Lanka can be hopeful of doing something special, especially in the Men’s Javelin Throw, Men’s 100m and Women’s Long Jump.
Here are the rankings of Sri Lanka athletes sorted by their Seasonal Bests compared with the other athletes who will be compete alongside them.
Para Athletics
The Sri Lanka Paralympic Committee has also entered para-athlete Palitha Bandara (F42 discus throw) to represent the country at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Bandara was placed fourth in the F42 discus throw event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Track & Field – CWG2022 – Sri Lanka Schedule
(Starting times in SL time)
>> Visit the Commonwealth Games 2022 Hub <<
