Tharushi and mixed relay team win golds in South Korea - By Dhammika Ratnaweera

Tharushi and mixed relay team win golds in South Korea – By Dhammika Ratnaweera

Tharushi Karunaratne with her 800m gold medal

Tharushi Karunaratne the promising athlete from Walala. A . Ratnayake Central once again came to the limelight when she won 800m gold medal at the Asian under 20 Athletic Championship which is now in progress in South Korea.

Tharushi Karunaratne coached by Susantha Fernando bagged her second medal of the meet yesterday as she earlier took silver medal of 400m on the previous day.

Tharushi who started her 800 m final from fourth lane took an early lead from the first round finished with a clear lead to earn gold medal with a time of 2.05:64 minutes. The second placed athlete finished the race with 2.10.22 minutes well behind Tharushi. The three other athletes couldn’t pose any challenge to young Tharushi Karunaratne and she finished the race with confidence.

“Tharushi is a future prospect and we should look after her very well and she is already expected to take part in next Asian Games in China representing both 400m and 800m. Her achievement in this meet gave a big boost to her,” added Sri Lanka Athletics (SLA) Vice President G.L.S Perera. SLA headed by Major General Palitha Fernando plans to develop athletes like Tharushi and our intention is to make strong second string team added SLC Vice President.

Meanwhile Sri Lankan 400×4 m mixed relay team comprised Tharushi Karunaratne, Jayeshi Uttatra, Vinod Ariyawansa and Shehan Dilranga won the gold medal with a new National record (3.25.41 minutes) yesterday. The previous record was 3. 26:39 minutes.

Malith Yasiru the Sri Lankan team member won the triple jump bronze medal with a distance of 15.82m yesterday.

Tharushi has won three medals (400m silver, 800m gold and 400x4m mixed relay gold) while Jayeshi Uttatra won 400 m bronze and 400x 4 m gold.